Arsenal's pre-season thrown into chaos after Toure contracts malaria

13 April 2012

Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has contracted Malaria and could miss the start of the season.

The Ivory Coast international was taken to hospital after developing symptoms while on the club’s pre-season tour of Austria and Hungary.

He remained at the team hotel last night as Theo Walcott scored an equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Szombathelyi Haladas but was said to be in good spirits.

Laid low: Arsenal's Kolo Toure

Laid low: Arsenal's Kolo Toure

Toure, 27, is thought to have contracted the disease during a summer trip to his homeland, where Malaria is common.

Arsene Wenger confirmed last night he is in the market to buy a midfield enforcer to partner Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal have sold Mathieu Flamini, Gilberto and Lassana Diarra this year and will lose Alexandre Song to Cameroon’s Olympic Games campaign for the start of the season.

Wenger, who has been linked with Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry, said: 'We need one more body in there. If we find a reasonable target we will get him. There is no special name.’

Wenger is also planning to send scouts to the Olympics to watch Juventus midfielders Claudio Marchisio, 22, and Sebastian Giovinco, 21.

 

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