The City defender was a member of the Gunners side which won the Barclays Premier League title undefeated in the 2003-04 season.

Toure, who joined City in 2009, made a rare start for his current team as they beat his old club 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium last night to reach the Carling Cup semi-finals.

It was yet another impressive result for Roberto Mancini's side, who lead the Premier League after 11 wins and two draws in 13 games, but Toure is not drawing parallels with his Arsenal experiences.

The Ivory Coast international said: "We (have) started very well but now we just need to forget about it, just try to win game by game and as long as you play and win, game by game, it's fantastic.

"We don't think about this record. We just want to play as well as we can every single game.

"When you start thinking about it, you play without control.

"For me, we just need to relax, go out, do our best and win the game.

"At Arsenal, we never thought about it, it never came into my mind. It was taking game by game and trying to win."

Toure was pleased to be involved as Mancini made 10 changes from the side which drew at Liverpool on Sunday.

The 30-year-old was making only his fourth start of the season having found chances limited due to the form of Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott in central defence.

Toure said: "It was a good return, a good game.

"We played a really good Arsenal side and we knew the game would be really tough to come to the Emirates and try to win.

"It doesn't matter which team the manager picks - for us, and especially for me, I'm very happy we won the game."

City were made to work hard for a victory which was finally secured when substitute Sergio Aguero was played in by Adam Johnson and struck with the visitors' first shot on target seven minutes from time.

Arsenal had made 10 changes themselves but their youthful side gave full value with Park Chu-young and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain having good chances.

Arsene Wenger's men have not won a trophy since 2005 but Toure believes it is just a matter of time before they end the drought.

He said: "Definitely - they have young players working really hard, they played very well.

"It's magic - Mr Wenger brings in any player and makes them better. Credit to him because he's a fantastic manager.

"He knows how to see young promising players and that's a great quality for him.

"(Emmanuel) Frimpong was fantastic, Oxlade-Chamberlain was good as well.

"All of them were fantastic - they made us work really hard but at the end we had the killer goal."

The game also saw Samir Nasri make his first return to the Emirates Stadium since his £24million August move to City, and he was jeered throughout by the home supporters.

The Frenchman also exchanged words with Frimpong as the players left the field.

On the crowd reaction, Toure said: "Fans do that when they love you.

"They saw him playing for the other side and they weren't really happy but they love him and they know he was a great player for Arsenal.

"He is very intelligent and he knew that would happen, that's why he never showed any bad reaction, which I give him credit for.

"The fans, they had love for him and it makes them react like that more.

"We all enjoy coming back."

On his own return, he said: "Arsenal is the team where I started and coming back here is always great for me.

"I am still close to the boss and we talk quite regularly, of course."