Toure remains confident of title success
Arsenal defender Kolo Toure snatched a point with an 86th-minute equaliser against Middlesbrough and despite conceding top spot to Manchester United he stressed the Gunners still believed they would win the Premier League.
Toure headed home late on after former Gunners striker Jeremie Aliadiere had put the visitors ahead midway through the first half with a debatable offside goal.
There was still time for Mido to be harshly sent off for a high foot on Gael Clichy just 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The result meant Arsenal dropped to second in the Premier League on goal difference after Manchester United, who have played one match fewer, won at Derby earlier in the day.
Toure was disappointed with the result, saying: “I feel a bit sad because they were lucky to score the first goal. It is a good draw, it is always good not to lose and we again came back to score a late goal.”
The Ivory Coast international added on Setanta Sports: “We are really confident. We will keep going. We are confident we have a strong team and we will show Chelsea and Man U that we are still there.”
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate expressed his pride for his players after a tough seven days in which they were knocked out of the FA Cup quarter-finals by Coca-Cola Championship side Cardiff and then drew at Aston Villa in midweek.
“We are disappointed because we have got so close to winning, although we have had to defend for 65 minutes,” he told Setanta Sports.
“They (Arsenal) are a fantastic team but the character my players have shown this week is incredible.
“To give that sort of effort and commitment was brilliant. They have played ever so well, scored a fantastic goal and just dug in and managed to find the energy to hang on.
“We were wounded last week (by Cardiff) and there are two ways you can respond. To come here and take a point off what is an outstanding team is a good performance.”
