Ashley Cole has attempted to heal the wounds he left with Arsenal fans after being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The former England left-back famously ditched the Gunners for Chelsea in 2006 and went on to have a hugely successful spell at Stamford Bridge.
Cole came through the academy at Arsenal and made his first-team debut under Arsene Wenger at the age of 18 in 1999.
He won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his spell at Highbury before leaving on a free transfer to join their London rivals.
Ashley Cole has attempted to heal Arsenal wounds after being inducted by the Premier League
Premier League
Cole was shocked at Arsenal’s offer of a contract renewal, said to be in the region of £50,000 a week.
Chelsea pounced and he quickly became something of a hate figure for Arsenal fans and received huge abuse every time he faced his former club.
Cole is the latest Premier League legend to be inducted into the Hall of Fame having played almost 400 times in the competition, following the likes of Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer.
And he has attempted to smooth over any remaining anger or discontent with Arsenal fans.
Cole admits that he may not have had the career he achieved if it wasn’t for the north London club.
He said: “Making my debut for my boyhood club, you’re putting on that famous Arsenal shirt and walking out with top players.
“I wasn’t the biggest of frames but I had to make up for that in my game somehow. My aggression towards players, getting up to people quick and fast.
“Arsene Wenger certainly gave me the confidence and belief that I belonged in that first team.
“If I was at a different club, I don’t know if I would have made it. Who knows?”
He won the first of his Premier League titles in 2002, the emotion of which is still difficult to comphrend for Cole.
The 43-year-old added: “You get the opportunity to now lift a Premier League trophy. That feeling is hard to explain, that emotion is hard to explain.
“We played with a finesse and a freedom within the team. We certainly had some fighters in there who never gave up.”
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Ashley Cole won two Premier League titles during his time at Arsenal
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Cole was also part of Arsenal’s Invincibles team who went the entire 2003/04 season without losing a Premier League match.
He also holds that achievement close to his heart, adding: “38 games in a season is tough so to actually get over the line and do it is historical.
“You can’t fathom it really, can’t believe we actually done that and we went through the whole season without losing a game.”
Wenger has also given his verdict on Cole following his induction, claiming the former left-back is one of the league’s greatest defenders.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has given his verdict on Ashley Cole
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Wenger said: “He was 16 years old and we had a look at him. He has character, he’s a fighter. When he played his first game, you felt straight away he was made to be at this level.
“I think for what he has done for English football and for the Premier League, it’s well deserved.
“He will be recognised as one of the great defenders overall in the Hall of Fame.”
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