Yaya Touré believes the Arsenal Invincibles will never be emulated because the Premier League has become more competitive, while the midfielder is unconcerned after Manchester City lost their unbeaten domestic record to West Ham.
The 2-1 defeat was the first time their defence had been breached in the league after City had recorded five wins from five games. It was also their second consecutive defeat after Juventus beat them in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium.
Yet Touré shrugged off the defeat. “Sometimes it is just about luck. We played well against West Ham but we were unlucky again – the same as against Juventus. What are we going to do? We have been shooting, I don’t know how many times, and I missed chances too. I should have blown the hand of the keeper off but it’s football.”
In the 2003-04 season Arsenal became champions when going unbeaten in all 38 games. Touré insists this would not be possible now.
“The Premier League is always improving and you see how the big clubs invest in players for a lot of money and this sequence in football – the Invincibles – it will never happen again in the Premier League,” he said. “All the teams are spending money, buying big players. Like West Ham, even Leicester, Stoke spending on players from Barcelona. You can understand how the Premier League is so competitive because all the players want to come to England and want to improve, and want to play well. You are not surprised to see Chelsea losing at home to Crystal Palace. It’s difficult, the Premier League.”
At the Etihad on Saturday West Ham took a two-goal lead through Victor Moses and Diafro Sakho before Kevin De Bruyne registered what proved merely a consolation just before the break. “It’s only six games in, 32 to go and it’s going to be tough,” Touré said. “It’s good for the league and the fans as well. I’m not worried. This season the league is going to be tough. We started well and we just lacked that little bit extra. We have been shooting and we missed that luck to change this situation. It’s the little margins. The score against West Ham did not reflect the whole game. In the second half we dominated, but we didn’t win and that’s gone.”
Sergio Agüero has only one goal in seven appearances but Touré has no doubt last season’s golden boot winner will be prolific again soon.
“Definitely he will come back,” he said. “It’s just about one goal with Sergio. He was injured a few days ago and now he is back and it’s not easy.”
City had won 11 consecutive matches in the Premier League, a record for the club in any division. Now Touré believes the side can embark on another run. “Yes, but it’s very important to know we have new players coming and it’s always difficult. Kevin De Bruyne did very well and Raheem Sterling as well since he came. But it’s not finished yet and only the sixth game in the league. We wanted to carry on to be unbeatable but now we have to deal with this defeat. We have fantastic players in the dressing room and we are going to come back, that’s for sure.”
City travel to Sunderland for Tuesday’s Capital One Cup third-round tie. Touré has no wish to be stood down. “I feel like I’m 20 years old. Because of what this club has done for me, the fans, until the last minute I want to fight for this club,” the 32-year-old said.
“They deserve that. We have a lot of targets this year and we will see how we end this season. The League Cup is very important. I’m always there for those games. I don’t want to stop and have a rest. I don’t care about rest. For me, until I get a serious injury, Touré is fit and wants to play. I hope I play against Sunderland. Why rested? I look younger and I want to play more.”
