Arsenal skipper Robin van Persie admits Manchester City defender Kolo Toure was a huge influence when he was still with the Gunners.

Van Persie remains grateful for the support the Ivorian offered him when he joined the Club in 2004.

"I'll always remember what he did for me when I first arrived at Arsenal," Van Persie told the Official Arsenal Matchday Programme.

"On my first day here, he said to me 'Robin, you can see me as your older brother. If you have anything you want to ask, or if anything is wrong, come to me. I know how you feel, I was new too, so come to me.'

"It's things like that you never forget. So I rate him as a great player, but behind that there is a great person too."