As Wenger All But Confirms Kolo Toure's Exit, Is It Deja Vu for Arsenal?

“We’ll see what’s happening in the next 24 hours…we have many centre-backs, seven centre-backs and I’m in a position where we have to play some in midfield…but of course Kolo is a very good player—we’ll see what happens in the next 24 hours.”

In the latest interview given by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, he has all but confirmed the departure of the last "real" Invincible who played a key part in Arsenal's unbeaten season.

Nearly two weeks after the departure of Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City, it seems his former team-mate will be joining him in a move mooted at £15 million.

Kolo Toure joined Arsenal in 2002 from Asec Mimosas and since then has worked himself in the hearts of the Gunners faithful.

While Adebayor's exit to the Eastlands was vastly well received by Arsenal fans who had grown tired of his lack of effort, offsides and constant disrespect for the London club, the man labeled King Kolo will see his impending departure viewed differently.

Toure is a man loved by Arsenal fans. He is a hard-working defender who has always put the interest of the club first. At his best, he was neigh on impossible to get past with Sol Campbell by his side.

He is also one of Arsene Wenger's "captains" who is meant to lead by example on and off the pitch. So, is this a bad move by the Arsenal management?

On one hand, it looks like a clever move.

Since the last African Cup of Nations Tournament in 2008, Kolo Toure has looked somewhat out of sorts after his bout of malaria.

With another ACN coming up in January, Arsenal are effectively getting £15 million for a player who will only be available until January and who is on the last year of his contract.

However, there is more to Toure's drop in form than the African tournament.

To play at his peak, Toure needs a commanding, aggressive center-back beside him. This he had with Sol Campbell during Arsenal's best seasons in recent years.

However, the latest Arsenal partnership of Toure and William Gallas hasn't worked on many levels. For one, Gallas isn't the commanding figure that Sol Campbell was which has affected Toure's play.

Secondly, the pair don't get on, on a personal level. This came to a head in the winter months and saw the Ivory Coast international hand in a transfer request. Toure ended up staying and forged a better partnership, albeit still shaky, with Gallas but it appears that the wounds were never fully healed.

The signing of Thomas Vermaelen was a welcome boost to Arsenal fans who are fully aware of the need for extra spine at the back. But surely if Toure does leave, Arsenal haven't enough cover as Arsene Wenger may claim?

He says we have seven center backs but quantity doesn't equal quality.

William Gallas is a top class center back on his day, but is prone to temper tantrums and moments of madness. He has also become quite injury prone and with one year left on his contract, is expected to leave on a free next summer.

New signing Thomas Vermaelen is unproven in the Premier League and it is surely too soon to throw him into the deep end.

The return of Phillipe Senderos will hardly draw sighs of relief. While a good honest player, all he needs to turn into a mess is the sight of Didier Drogba.

Johan Djourou seems to have played for Arsenal for years without making a real impact, but at 22 is a very good back up player.

Alex Song played the majority of last season in midfield with average success, although he does look like a player who can step in at central defence if called upon—as proven towards season's end. However, he will also be playing in next year's African Cup of Nations for Cameroon.

Then there is Mikael Silvestre. That he is at Arsenal at all has confused Arsenal fans for months, so there is no thought of him becoming a valuable player in the Arsenal line up.

So if Kolo Toure does move on to pastures new, that will be the players Arsenal currently have on the roster who can play central defence. Apart from William Gallas, none of the rest look quite up to scratch as of yet at least.

Djourou, Song, and Silvestre all are players that can play in the odd match should they be needed for an injury or on a squad rotation basis but not as one half of a guaranteed starting central defence.

Meanwhile, Thomas Vermaelen may become one of the best defender's to grace Arsenal and the English Premier League, but with the North London club having such a tough start to a vital season, can the chance be taken of the Belgian settling in immediately?

Surely Arsene Wenger can't be tempted to enter next season's competitions with the lot he currently has?

Last season, when Arsenal fans watched in dismay as Gilberto, Flamini, and Hleb all left, we were sure to see replacements come in.

Inler, Cana, and Alonso were all banded about. But only teenager Aaron Ramsey and Samir Nasri came.

Surely, it won't be deja vu for Arsenal. Wenger must have someone lined up to replace Kolo Toure.

If the rumours are to be believed that Wenger's intention is to replace Toure with a £15 million capture of Fulham's beast Brede Hangeland, then this may indeed be a very smart move.

Fulham, however, are verily against selling one of their prized assets from a team that performed so well last season.

The Frenchman better have an ace up his sleeve or Arsenal's season could be a bigger mess than last season's, with only three weeks to go to the opener with Everton.

Some may think I am getting carried away but George Graham was correct in thinking winning teams are built from the back.

If Arsenal's defending was bad last season, what will it be like now, after losing one of its better, more experienced players?

There better be some new arrivals at the Emirates soon to galvanise this team or else a few more may start believing that we are content with just fourth place and a Champions League spot.