Toure: I can stop my pal Didier

Kole Toure will come up against his £25million Ivory Coast team-mate Didier Drogba on Sunday and promises he will improve on the last time they clashed.

Arsenal defender Toure said: "The only time I have played against Didier before is in training with the Ivory Coast team. He scored then but this will be different. The game is harder and I will be trying to be harder."

Drogba joined Chelsea from Olympique Marseille during the summer. And his progress back to fitness after a groin injury interrupted his career at Stamford Bridge has been noted by Toure, who kept in regular touch with him during his recovery.

Toure said: "We don't see each other that often but we talk regularly on the phone. I am happy for him he is fit again and it will be exciting to play against him.

"He is a really good player. I know that from playing with him for the national team. He did well when he returned from injury and he scored a nice goal against Newcastle.

"He will be trying to do the same on Sunday but I will be doing my best to stop him."