Touré wants prizes, not plaudits

Kolo Touré believes it is high time Arsenal FC delivered on their undoubted promise and picked up a trophy, rather than mere plaudits for the beauty of their football.

'Want a trophy'
Looking ahead to FC Porto's Group G visit to north London on Tuesday, defender Touré reaffirmed the team's determination to collect some silverware in the wake of their surprise weekend defeat by Hull City AFC. "We really want to do something this season because for four seasons we have not won anything," said the Ivory Coast international. "We are playing good football and everyone is talking about Arsenal. We want to win a trophy to show the good football we play can bring us some silverware."


Survivor of 2005
Arsenal came close last term, reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals and finishing four points off the Premier League summit. "Of course we know we have the quality and we have the spirit as well. Last season we learned from a lot of mistakes and that will help us," added the 27-year-old, one of three survivors of the Arsenal side that lifted the FA Cup in 2005.

Tall order
Reflecting on the 2-1 loss to top-flight newcomers Hull, which ended Arsenal's 17-month unbeaten home run, Touré's manager Arsène Wenger had lamented that "our centre-backs are not very tall", mindful of Daniel Cousin's headed winner. Yet Touré, who measures 1.80m, said a player's stature was less a concern than their strength and alertness. "You know that [Roberto] Ayala is not the tallest and he is a top defender. [Fabio] Cannavaro is not the tallest. Cannavaro was the best player in the world two years ago and I think I am taller than him. It is not about that, because the player who attacks the ball will score.

'Still a good side'
"We were winning 1-0 and then maybe in our minds we thought the game was over," he added. "In the dressing room after the game you saw every player was really sad and disappointed, but we will try to show another face [on Tuesday]. We are lucky we can put Saturday's game behind us immediately and we have a chance to show everyone we are still a good side. We saw a tape of Porto playing Benfica and they are a good team. They have always been in the Champions League and have experience of the competition. It is going to be a tight game and exciting for us as well to show we have the character to win against a big team."