Arsenal have put up with some mercenary, wantaway, morally-void players in their time, but there’s one, that for me, takes the biscuit. Forget the repugnant Samir Nasri, who took his money and ran. Forget Robin Van Persie, who left Arsenal without ever really bothering to clarify why to the fans.
The worst of the bunch was Ashley Cole, who decided to leave the club he loved over a minor contract dispute. In the end, Arsenal’s unwillingness to pay him the exact figure his agent had told him he was worth, did more than almost send him swerving off a road. It effectively ended his relationship with Arsenal football club. It severed his ties with the fans.
He’s now known as Cashley Cole (and other less pleasant names) in most parts of North London. Back when they cared enough, fans burned fake £20 notes with Ashley’s face on it.
The truth is, the hatred has faded and turned into apathy, but the memory remains. He’s be forever tarnished with the brush of greed, whether he deserves it or not. But there’s an interesting question to be raised as to whether Arsenal’s fans would ever accept Ashley Cole making a shock return to the club.
You get the sense that there’d be uproar. That the fans just wouldn’t be able to license a player of his ilk wearing their shirt again. And yet, talkSPORT claim that Ashley Cole has turned down a one-year extension to his Chelsea contract. If he doesn’t sign over the next year, he’ll be available on a free signing next summer.
So who do talkSPORT list as one of his possible destinations? You guessed it, the Emirates.
Whilst I think Cole would be able to improve this Arsenal squad, there’s also the risk that he’d inhibit the progression of young Kieran Gibbs. The young Brit has a good chance of having a big future in this Arsenal side (and for England) and I’d be loathe to see Cole kicking him out of the side.
And then there’s Andre Santos – the Premier League’s most lovable left-back. Even if he’s miles away from adopting Cole’s defensive prowess, he’s likeable enough, and has the attacking flair to merit a place in this squad. If Arsenal had three left-backs, his chances would be extremely limited.
So all in all, Arsenal have no real need for another left back. Perhaps this is one Arsene Wenger should steer well clear of?
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Silly article. More chance of Russell Brand being a virgin.
The only time I want to see this horrible excuse for a person at Emirates is leaving the field with his tail between his legs after whomever he decides will pay him enough, are comprehensively beaten by the Arsenal
My stance on what happened with Ashley has softened recently, and although at the time I felt it was a huge betrayal some things that have happened since have put his event in to more perspective for me.
I disagree with you that he was the worst of the bunch. Nasri and RVP were far worse because they left after the club had nurtured them and been patient with them when they weren’t really delivering for the club, (for different reasons), and just when we started to get our reward and they began to deliver, they stabbed us in the back. What was worse was that they tried to paint their departures about being for honorable reasons when we all new the underlying factor was money.
So these 2 didn’t repay our trust and patience and lied about it when they did go. Compare that to Ashley and he gave us years of good service in helping us win silverware, in other words he earned his money, and when he left it was about money but at least he was honest about that and didn’t release statements about the club being too small fry and unambitious for him. I also have a certain sympathy for him as the club itself was not blameless. The club had offered him maybe £60kpw verbally and he accepted verbally in principal, and then we tried to beat him down to £55kpw with no explanation as to why. In his position I would have looked at the club and felt firstly that it showed a lack of character and honor-ability and secondly that they were not that bothered in retaining you. The figures we were looking at with him pale in comparison with RVP’s so you feel the club could have honoured what they said.
On that basis Ashleys indiscretion is far less than the other 2 but the question of if we need him, I am inclined to agree with you, that Gibbs is showing good form and his progress would be hindered, and also that Ashley will not want to play back up to Gibbs. I think it would pose too many issues in the squad purely on the footballing side, and as you point out we have Santos to cover and even Vermaelen if necessary. For me the better option to balance our defence is a centre back that could play right full-back if required.
Absolutely no chance! Good player but we don’t need a greedy prick like him at the club! Plus he still aggravates the fans every chance he gets, possibly the most hated player for the fans
His next destination should be Stoke City or any other Club where they don’t swagger, where they work hard to stay in the league, where they play for each other. No Drogbao or Torres to rely on, no marquee signing, no endorsements (can’t remember seeing Ryan Scarewcross in a commercial). Get used to lumping forward and hoping for the best in the opposition’s 18 yard box.
No.
Get him back sit on the bench and pay him the £1.50 that we value him at and give his ex misses and her new bloke a season ticket
Cole ruined any chance of being deemed an Arsenal legend even though he was part of the invincibles.He will never see his picture on the walls of the Emirates.people forget that Wenger asked Cole to his face if he had had any meeting with Mourinho .Cole denied this ,and then Photographs of him sneaking out of a hotel meeting with Chelsea officails appeared.He is a little scumbag that should never be spoken of in the same breath as a possible return to the Arsenal
no
No. Absolutely, certainly, definitely and unequivocally not.
what? nay, nay, nay naaay!
What many commentators seem to miss is that Cole was NOT promised 60k per week.
What happened, as explained by BOTH parties (Dein & Cole’s agent), was that Cole’s agent asked for 60k, Dein agreed that he thought Cole was worth that, but stated that he would need to take that proposal to the board.
The board made a counter-offer of 55k, which they were certainly entitled to do as they had made no “promise” (and neither had Dein for that matter, other than the promise to prsent the proposal and recommendation to the board).
Cole, spurred on by his agent, misunderstood the process (I don’t think he’s the brighest light in the harbour), and flipped out.
So yes, the board tried to undercut the proposal, but then they were certainly entitled to, no-one was “going back on their word”, but Cole and his agent were entitled to stick to their guns and negotiate, which they then did not do.
At most, Cole could state that he felt the board was negotiating in bad faith, but even that is a more than a bit of a push considering that they were not privy to the discussion between Dein, Cole, and Cole’s agent until Dein presented the proposal to the board, and were certainly not obliged to agree to whatever Dein presented or recommended, that’s why you have a board.