Ex-Liverpool star infuriated Arsenal boss by ignoring training ground rule

Kolo Toure's reckless tackling during a 2002 Arsenal training session left Wenger, Henry and Bergkamp on the ground; he even took out the manager himself.

Kolo Toure has stories to tell ahead of Liverpool's Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday, his two former clubs. The ex-defender began his career at Arsenal, winning the league title in 2004, before joining Liverpool a decade later for a three-year spell.

Toure's first impressions at Arsenal came during a 2002 training session when he was a 21-year-old trialist. Ray Parlour recalled the incident in a book about Arsene Wenger: Toure ignored the unwritten rule to take it easy in practice and launched into a series of reckless challenges. He smashed into Thierry Henry from behind with what would have been a red card in a match, then did the same to Dennis Bergkamp moments later. When Wenger told him to stop tackling, Toure responded by taking out the manager himself with a two-footed tackle.

Toure confirmed the story years later, admitting he was "in shock" at his own actions. He believed the incident might cost him a move to Arsenal, but Wenger kept him anyway—perhaps impressed by his defensive desire.