Gunners manager Arsene Wenger believes the 20-year-old utility player is a sound long-term prospect, but said that he was unlikely to feature in the first team for several months.

Toure did enough during two reserve fixtures against West Ham in December and on Tuesday to convince the Arsenal boss of his potential.

He moves to Highbury from Asec Mimosas on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee, but was not signed in time to be eligible for this season's Champions League fixtures.

Toure has been a permanent fixture in the Ivory Coast side since 2000 and recently played in the 2002 African Nations Cup.

He has a work permit to play in the UK because he has featured in so many internationals.

"Kolo is very versatile and can play in the centre of the park and at right-back," Wenger told the Arsenal website.

"We think he has the basic potential to become a very good player.

"He won't feature in the first-team squad immediately because he'll need at least three to four months' work.

"But you never know - he could feature before the end of the season."