Kolo Toure... defender nods home his final Arsenal goal
Kolo Toure - his vital statistics at Arsenal
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Kolo Toure has completed his transfer to Manchester City after spending more than eight years at the Club.
He arrived at Highbury in 2002 from Ivorian side Asec Mimosas as a relatively unknown utility player, equally adept in midfield or defence. But he would soon endear himself to the Arsenal faithful through sheer hard work and determination.
Used mostly in the engine room during his first few seasons at the Club, Kolo scored his first Arsenal goal in the Gunners’ 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge in September 2002. He would eventually finish the campaign, his first full season with the Club, with 39 appearances and two goals.
During Arsenal’s title-winning campaign the following year, Kolo, now appearing more regularly in defence, made 54 appearances for the Gunners, scoring three goals.
Another 49 appearances were racked up in 2004/05 before arguably his finest individual moment in an Arsenal shirt during the following season.
Arsenal hosted Villarreal in the first leg of their Champions League Semi-Final in April 2006. With 41 minutes gone, Toure notched the only goal of the game from close range. It proved decisive as Arsenal secured a goalless draw in the return leg to reach their first ever Champions League Final.
Another 53 appearances and four more goals were to follow in 2006/07 with Kolo now a mainstay at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, developing a promising partnership with William Gallas.
Season 2007/08 was somewhat interrupted by the African Nations Cup but Kolo once again proved his versatility by covering for the injured Bacary Sagna at right-back for the final part of the season.
Last season, his final campaign in North London, Toure added another 41 appearances and scored his final goal for the Club in Arsenal’s 3-1 victory at West Brom in March.
| Season | Premier League | Europe | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| 2002-2003 | 9+17 (2) | 3+4 (0) | 3+2 (0) | 1 (0) | 16+23 (2) |
| 2003-2004 | 36+1 (1) | 10 (0) | 4+1 (2) | 2 (0) | 52+2 (3) |
| 2004-2005 | 35 | 8 (1) | 5+1 (0) | 0 (0) | 48+1 (1) |
|
2005-2006 |
33 (0) | 12 (1) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 45 (1) |
| 2006-2007 | 35 (3) | 10 (0) | 4 (1) | 4 (0) | 53 (4) |
| 2007-2008 | 29+1 (2) | 9 (0) | 2 (0) | 0 (0) | 40+1 (2) |
| 2008-2009 | 26+3 (1) | 9 (0) | 3 (0) | 0 (0) | 38+3 (1) |
| Totals | 203+22 (9) | 61+4 (2) | 21+4 (3) | 7 (0) | 292+30 (14) |
[Tuesday, July 28, 2009]
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