Kolo Toure hit Arsene Wenger with two-footed tackle on Arsenal trial - and still got contract

New Wigan Athletic boss Kolo Toure enjoyed a successful seven-year stint at Arsenal and played a part in their historic Invincibles campaign, but his first trial at the club was an absolute disaster

Ollie Salt Sport Reporter

19:43, 19 Mar 2021Updated 09:43, 29 Nov 2022

Kolo Toure enjoyed a successful seven-year stint at Arsenal(Image: GETTY)

Arsene Wenger previously recalled the hilarious story of Kolo Toure’s first trial at Arsenal, which saw him two-foot Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and the manager himself.

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Toure, who has become the new manager of Wigan Athletic, racked up 326 appearances in his successful seven-year spell with the Gunners and played a key part in their 2003/04 Invincibles campaign. Nevertheless, it was a miracle that he even had the chance to go on and become an Arsenal legend after his calamitous first trial at the club in 2002.

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Upon arrival in north London, the Ivorian defender was told not to produce any heavy tackles on Wenger’s star-studded squad, who were in with a chance of winning the Premier League title that season.

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Despite this warning, the story goes that Toure first cleaned Henry out with a red-card worthy challenge, before executing a similarly poor tackle on Bergkamp.

But as if chopping down two of Arsenal’s most important players wasn’t bad enough, he then topped off the trial from hell by taking Wenger out with another shocking two-footer that left the Gunners boss in the medical room.

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Thierry Henry and Kolo Toure in Arsenal training

Upon arrival in north London Toure first cleaned out star striker Thierry Henry(Image: GETTY)

Toure must have thought his big chance to land a dream move to Arsenal was up in smoke, but to everyone’s surprise Wenger was left in awe of his desire and chose to sign him.

Ray Parlour has told the story in the past, and Wenger has confirmed it played out exactly how the former Gunners midfielder described it.

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Arsene Wenger and Kolo Toure during their time at Arsenal

And to top off the trial from hell, he then took out Wenger with a two-footer that sent the Arsenal manager to the medical room(Image: GETTY)

“Yes, he tackled us but it was more for reasons of enthusiasm than aggressiveness,” the Frenchman said in an interview with 11Freunde.

“He was keen to show how much he wanted to stay. I had to go to the doctor, but my injury wasn't too serious.

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“I signed him the next day because of his desire, his hunger and his physical strength. He was a monster.”

Despite the calamitous start, Toure was signed by Wenger and went on to enjoy a successful seven-year career with the Gunners(Image: GETTY )

In his second full season at Highbury, Toure made 37 appearances in Arsenal’s historic 2003/04 Invincibles campaign, in which they romped home to the Premier League title without losing a single match. They are the only English team in history to achieve the feat in a 38-game season.

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The Ivorian now ventures into his first managerial role having been appointed first team manager at Wigan. Wigan chief executive Malachy Brannigan said: “We are delighted that Kolo has become the new manager of Wigan Athletic, and the Board are pleased that he is the man to take us forward.

“We received a high calibre of applicants for the manager’s job in recent weeks, in a very thorough recruitment process as we looked to appoint the right person for the role."

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