Kolo Toure gives hilarious response after listening back to Ray Parlour recounting his infamous Arsenal trial… as he blames ‘enthusiasm’ for two-footing Arsene Wenger
- Toure became a crucial player for Arsenal during a seven year spell at the club
- The defender signed despite two footing manager Arsene Wenger while on trial
- What’s Brendan Rodgers doing in the Scottish wilderness? It’s All Coming Up
Ex-Arsenal centre back Kolo Toure burst out laughing after listening to former team-mate Ray Parlour’s story of the defender’s infamous trial with the Gunners.
Toure was a key part of the Arsenal side from 2002 to 2009, after joining the Gunners following a successful trial from Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas in a £150,000 deal.
The defender’s trial has become legendary with Parlour previously recounting how Arsenal players had been left stunned by Toure taking out stars Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp in training.
His woes continued when he was claimed to have two-footed then Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
‘We had big games coming up, and with Henry and Bergkamp out, we could not win the league, simple as that… and we had a trialist kick them,’ Parlour said on talkSPORT.
Kolo Toure laughed after hearing the story of how he tackled Arsene Wenger during his trial
Toure was signed after his infamous trial and became a key part of Arsenal’s defence
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‘So anyway, the next ball goes in, and Toure makes a really good interception.
‘The ball spins up, and then he follows the ball; the ball lands right at Arsene Wenger’s feet. Boof, he takes him out.’
Toure saw the funny side of Parlour’s retelling of the story as he listened in on talkSPORT with the now 42-year-old admitting he enthusiasm had got the better of him.
He admitted that his desire to seize his opportunity to play for the Gunners and play with his idols had contributed to his chaotic trial.
‘I was so enthusiastic, I could not believe I was training with these guys,’ Toure said.
‘I was coming there and playing with people who were my idols, and when the game started, I wanted to show people what I was capable of doing.
‘I was trying to tackle everything I could, including the manager.’
Wenger previously confirmed that he had suffered an ankle injury after being tackled by Toure
Wenger had previously confirmed that Parlour’s story was true, with the Frenchman confirming he had injured his ankle when being tackled by Toure.
The former Arsenal manager claimed he took the decision to sign Toure the following day after being won over by his desire.
It proved to be a good decision as Toure became part of Arsenal’s Invincibles side during the 2003/04 season, the last time the Gunners won the Premier League.
He eventually left after making 326 appearances for the club and claiming two FA Cups with the club, before winning a second Premier League title with Man City in 2012.
Toure has embarked on a coaching career since his retirement, working alongside Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and Leicester.
His first managerial post was a short lived spell at Wigan last year, with Toure failing to win any of his nine matches in charge of the Latics.
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