A former Arsenal defender once smashed into Arsene Wenger with a thunderous tackle, leaving the Frenchman unable to walk. The player joined the Gunners in 2002, quickly emerging as a key asset in the middle of defence. He was a member of the Invincibles squad and played a crucial role in Arsenal's run to the Champions League final three years later.
The versatile defender was highly regarded in north London and wore the captain's armband in the absence of Gilberto Silva and Thierry Henry. Eventually, he demanded a move away following a bust-up with William Gallas and ended up joining Manchester City. He also played for Liverpool and Celtic and made the highest number of Premier League appearances of any African player.
The player in question is of course Kolo Toure, who made a lasting impression on his very first day of training with the Gunners. He was invited for a trial and did not hesitate to put himself about, even catching Wenger with a brutal two-footed challenge.
Arsenal icon Ray Parlour explained what happened during an appearance on talkSPORT: "The first ball goes into Henry and from nowhere, Kolo Toure takes him out. Wenger is like: 'Kolo, no kicking!'
"Next minute, they swap over and [Dennis] Bergkamp goes up against Toure now. The ball goes in and he takes Bergkamp out. So now, Wenger is getting really irritated.
"We had big games coming up and with Henry and Bergkamp out, we could not win the league, simple as that, and we had a trialist kick them!
"So anyway, the next ball goes in, and Toure makes a really good interception. The ball spins up. Arsene Wenger used to stand right in the middle of the midfield and forwards and he’d try and look at the movement.
"The ball has gone up in the air and Kolo Toure has his eye on the ball, he’s chasing the ball, and where did it land? Right at Arsene Wenger’s foot and he’s two-footed Arsene Wenger. Proper tackle."
Wenger did not come out of it unscathed and headed into the physio room for treatment on his swollen ankle. Although he was left unable to walk by the force of the challenge, the ordeal did not ruin Toure's chances of earning a contract.
Parlour continued: "Kolo Toure is, like, nearly crying. He can’t believe it. It’s his big day at Arsenal and he’s took out two of our best players and the manager.
"That afternoon, I remember going into the medical room to see Gary Lewin about something and Arsene Wenger is sitting there with a big ice pack on his ankle.
"I felt sorry for Kolo Toure, so I said to him: 'Boss, I don’t think he meant to kick you like that'. And he said to me: 'Yes, I like his desire, we sign him tomorrow'."
The rest, as they say, is history with Toure going on to make 326 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions and winning three major trophies.