Kolo Toure left for African Nations Cup duty on Monday insisting that Arsenal will thrive in his absence thanks to the form of Eduardo.The Brazil-born Croatia striker steered the Gunners into the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday with his sixth goal in four games - and put Tottenham on red alert for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Spurs will also be wary of a growing understanding between Eduardo and young Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, who also scored to put Burnley out of the FA Cup.

Toure said: "Eduardo's finishing is unbelievable. It seems that every time he gets a chance he scores - and he also manages to score at very important times for us. His composure is outstanding when he is in front of goal.

"He has now played with Nicklas [Bendtner] for some time and they know each other's games very well and they look a very good partnership.

"It is great for us to have them playing so well, especially as we have Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor ready to come back - it means we will have four top-class strikers."

Toure and Emmanuel Eboue flew out on Monday to join up with the Ivory Coast, while Alex Song is in the Cameroon squad for the tournament in Ghana.

The players could miss up to nine domestic games, depending on their countries' success in the tournament and how Arsenal fare in the next round of the FA Cup. The Gunners will not be deprived of Adebayor's services however as Togo failed to qualify.

Toure added: "We know that it is difficult for the clubs. We just have to go and try to bring some happiness to the people in our countries in Africa."

Arsene Wenger has called for the African tournament to be switched to the same dates as the European Championships but the Arsenal manager insists he is not too concerned by the trio's absence.

Wenger said: "I consider them to be injured, so if they were injured, they would not play. The day they get out of the competition, they are not injured any more and so you get them back."

Meanwhile, Toure has high hopes of Arsenal going all the way in the FA Cup.

The centre-back said: "We know the FA Cup is very special and that's why we are happy we are going forward in the competition. We really want to win it but we know there is a long way to go.

"Burnley were a very good team and made it very, very hard for us, it was not easy at all.

"I watched the games on Saturday and they were all very tight, and it was the same for us, they gave us some hassle and a hard time but after we got the first goal it was easier and the second killed the game."

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