Tony Adams was still around when Toure first arrived at Highbury and Martin Keown, another member of the back-four honed by George Graham, is now a defensive coach at Arsenal.

Toure, who scored the only goal at Highbury last night, said: “We have a big chance now and we need to take that. We are leading, that’s really important and the pressure is going to be on Villarreal.

“We have a very young defence and we are learning from game to game, and I have learned from people like Tony Adams and the back four from a few years ago who were fantastic.

“I learned a few things from Tony Adams, the way he used to lead the team, and he would talk to all the players on the training ground and try to help the young lads. He helped me a lot as well.

“Martin Keown is at the training ground every day and we will talk about how the first leg went. He will tell me what I did well, and what I didn’t do well!”

Toure thinks the atmosphere at Villarreal will suit Arsenal. Like Highbury, it is a small, compact stadium and the Gunners showed that it terms of attacking flair they hold the whip hand over the Spaniards.

He added: “They are playing in front of their own crowd and they will know Arsenal are a difficult team to play against.

“They have to score a goal and when you have a player like Thierry Henry we know we can score at any time. That would kill the game.

“Villarreal are a really hard team but we can make it, we are in a good position.

“We are a young team and the way we play is fantastic. We also defend all together and that’s why we are doing so well.

“It will be similar to the first leg because Highbury is not big as well and they play in a similar style to us: good football, passing the ball very well.”

Sweden midfield Freddie Ljungberg believes the fact Villarreal have to score will play into Arsenal’s hands after their 1-0 victory at Highbury.

The Spaniards showed a lack of ambition at Highbury and appeared to be relieved to return for the second leg only a goal down.

Ljungberg, however, believes that lead could be key as he said: “It was a good result for us but not fantastic.

“They didn’t attack that much which surprised me a little bit but we will see down in Spain.

“I’m hoping they will be a bit more offensive and that will give us more space and we can go at them.

“It’s still an open match but I think we have the upper hand.”

Ljungberg also credits Arsenal’s five-man midfield for their defensive success.

He added: “When we play 4-5-1 we are a bit more compact than we are in the league and maybe that helps us defend a bit better. It makes it difficult for our opponents to get many chances.

“I have all respect for Villarreal, they are a great side, but I have confidence. We feel good and we are playing good football at the moment so fingers crossed we can have a good result.”