Arsenal fans' bitterness is hard to accept but I don't regret Chelsea move, says Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole won two Premier League titles during his time with boyhood club Arsenal
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Standard Sport5 February 2019

Ashley Cole revealed his acrimonious exit from Arsenal and the criticism he still gets from supporters of the club more than a decade on is "hard" to accept.

The full-back was an integral part of two Premier League title wins with the Gunners but joined free-spending London rivals Chelsea in the summer of 2006 in a protracted saga.

Cole was dubbed "Cashley" by embittered Arsenal fans although he would go on to win one more Premier League title as well as the Champions League in his eight seasons with the Blues.

After a spell with Roma and Los Angeles Galaxy, he is now back in England with Sky Bet Championship Derby but, speaking as a guest on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, he reflected on his Arsenal departure.

He said: "I was a little bit hot-headed and didn't realise what I was doing at the time as well but I don't regret it. When I look back now, it was something maybe that was meant to happen.

"Of course it hurt me because I knew it wasn't just my fault. I didn't leave for no reason. I didn't go to Arsene Wenger and say 'I want to leave'. There was more to it.

"It happens in football now, I've seen it happen to a lot of other players. It's life, I moved on, they moved on.

"I do feel sometimes a little bit sad because it was my club, I played there since I was nine. To have that ill-feeling from the fans, still, is hard sometimes."

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