Ashley Cole Keeps Digging That Hole

Filed in archive Premiership 2006/7 on September 12, 2006

I want to like Ashley Cole, I really do. As England's first choice left back (him not me) he deserves some adulation, but the way Cole has handled his recent transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea makes me want to throw sharp objects at him.

In an extract from his (probably dreadful) biography "My Defence," Cole claims part of the reason he wanted out of Highbury/Ashburton Grove was the preferential treatment enjoyed by monsieur Thierry Henry. Get an eyeful of this:

"The club made Thierry feel wanted and special, wooing him, wining and dining him, speaking in public about how much they wanted him to stay, going on a deliberate charm offensive.

But me? I didn't have one dinner, one meeting or one phone call from anyone.

That's not sour grapes, it's just a sad truth. The truth is that the Gunners had done nothing all season to hold on to me."

Two things Ashley:

One - If memory serves, you did have one meeting didn't you? I believe it was in a hotel room. Thierry Henry did not meet Jose Mourinho (or anyone else) to discuss astronomical salaries while still under contract.

Two - Thierry Henry is a world class striker. With all due respect, you're an above average left back*.

*no disrespect to left-backs intended, i've played there many times myself, but you see what i'm saying