Arsenal legend Ian Wright thinks criticism of Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is uncalled for and believes his former club should try and sign the Ivorian this summer.
SEE MORE:
Arsenal transfer news
Man City transfer gossip
Manchester City want former Chelsea boss for a year before number one target becomes available
Toure was the butt of much of the criticism following City’s atrocious performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
And with the 31-year-old linked with a move away from the Etihad with former City boss Roberto Mancini thought to be interested at Inter Milan, some fans have made it clear they think the club should sell as soon as possible.
However, writing in his column in The Sun, Wright said they should be careful what they wish for.
“[Man City fans] all seemed to have a similar view — if someone from Italy or wherever comes up with £10million in the summer, then flog him at once,” says Wright
“…if you could get him for that price at the end of the season, I’d have him at Arsenal in a heartbeat.
“Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of writing him off, but he is 31 and I reckon he would be an absolute sensation at the Emirates for a couple of seasons at least.
“I just think Yaya is the easy option when fans are looking for a scapegoat, because of the money he earns and all that stuff about City not acknowledging his birthday a year ago.”
Wright believes Toure is the driving force behind Manchester City despite the heroics of David Silva and Sergio Aguero.
He may have had a performance to forget in the derby against United at the weekend, but ex-Arsenal striker Wright thinks if he were sold now it would be a decision the Premier League champions would certainly come to regret.
“Toure’s languid style of running will always see sofa experts claiming he is not trying. But they were not saying that when he was marauding through defences with opponents bouncing off him a season ago,” he writes.
“At the moment City are like a ship aimlessly drifting along, rather than charting a definite course, but to suggest that’s all Yaya’s fault? I’m sorry, but I’m not having that at all.
“Apart from Joe Hart, there just appears to be a lack of passion throughout the team — and that certainly isn’t down to just one man.
“All those City fans wanting to see the back of him should be careful what they wish for. Toure deserves a lot more respect than he is being shown at the moment.”