Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
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• Manager:Arsene Wenger

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Henry warns against Cole sale

09 Aug 2006 - 09:28:52

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Thierry Henry has warned Arsenal it would be a big mistake to sell England left-back Ashley Cole.

The Gunners are currently considering an offer from Chelsea for Cole and Henry is unhappy about the prospect of another key player being allowed to leave, just 12 months after Patrick Vieira moved to Juventus.

"Let me make it clear - I don't know what is happening with Ashley Cole," the Arsenal captain told The Sun.

"But the fact remains that if Ashley goes, we would be losing one of the team's best assets for the second year running.

"Ashley was tremendous in the World Cup. That is a fact. People can say what they want but he would be very difficult to replace.

"The loss of Vieira was massive - like it would be if Ashley goes. Obviously we want him to stay. He is one of the best left-backs in the world. We would miss him badly.

"I don't know anything about the situation with Chelsea. But if he goes there it will look like we are trying to catch a team at the same time as giving them one of our best assets. It would be difficult to take."

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger sees the situation differently and believes the squad is strong enough to cope without Cole.

Speaking after his side's 3-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday, he said: "Many big players have left the club in my nine years.

"However, Ashley Cole has not left yet, and if he does, we still have players who can come in for him or we can buy."