Chelsea Football Club News

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1905
• Manager:Roberto Di Matteo

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Cole: I was invisible man

11 Sep 2006 - 09:35:42

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Ashley Cole has admitted that Arsenal's favourable treatment of Thierry Henry was one of the main reasons why he became so desperate to leave the Gunners.

The England left-back finally sealed a move to Chelsea on transfer deadline day after a long-running saga involving the two London clubs.

Cole says he felt like the invisible man while the Gunners were doing everything they could to entice Henry to sign a new contract.

In an extract from the 25-year-old's book, which is being serialised in The Times, Cole said: "The club made Thierry feel wanted and special, wooing him, wining and dining him, speaking in public about how much they want 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.

"My worst fears were confirmed when, as Thierry and I sat in the centre circle after the final whistle, his name was sung from the rooftops while my contribution was recognised by a deafening silence.

"As his chants faded away we waited for mine. And we waited. And there was nothing. 'They're not bothered about me', I said, resigned to the fact. It was like I was the invisible man."