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| Wenger asks fans to respect Cole | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Arsene Wenger has called on Arsenal's fans to "respect" former player Ashley Cole who is expected to be in Chelsea's team to face the Gunners on Sunday. | |
| Cole made an acrimonious switch to Chelsea in the summer after a saga that included a "tapping up" row and a savage attack on Arsenal in his book. | Cole made an acrimonious switch to Chelsea in the summer after a saga that included a "tapping up" row and a savage attack on Arsenal in his book. |
| "We want Ashley to be respected like everybody else," said the Arsenal boss. | |
| "He's done well for the club and has now chosen to play for Chelsea. That's not a problem for me. | |
| Wenger added: "It's important Arsenal beat Chelsea on Sunday and don't focus on one player. | |
| "Our supporters are disappointed he left the club, we can accept and understand that, but that should not stop them from respecting him." | |
| Meanwhile, Cole is fearing the worst at Stamford Bridge. | |
| The full-back said: "I have to be honest with myself. I think I am going to get booed badly. | |
| "I am very well aware that some fans are very angry." | "I am very well aware that some fans are very angry." |
| He should get criticism. That is football. It makes the game exciting Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann on Ashley Cole | He should get criticism. That is football. It makes the game exciting Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann on Ashley Cole |
| Arsenal eventually received Chelsea defender William Gallas, plus £5m in a transfer deadline day deal. The Frenchman will not play on Sunday because of a thigh injury. | |
| But supporters were further angered by the subsequent publication of Cole's autobiography, "My Defence", in which he declared he had been "betrayed" by the Gunners' offer of a £55,000 per-week contract. | |
| Cole's former Arsenal team-mate, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, turned up the heat ahead of the game when he insisted the defender should be criticised for his defection to Chelsea. | Cole's former Arsenal team-mate, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, turned up the heat ahead of the game when he insisted the defender should be criticised for his defection to Chelsea. |
| He said: "Of course Ashley should expect criticism from supporters on Sunday. He should get criticism. That is football. It makes the game exciting. | He said: "Of course Ashley should expect criticism from supporters on Sunday. He should get criticism. That is football. It makes the game exciting. |
| 606 DEBATE: Your views on the match | |
| "If he didn't, it would have meant that he wasn't an important player, but he was. He was a vital member of our squad and we enjoyed some major successes with him." | "If he didn't, it would have meant that he wasn't an important player, but he was. He was a vital member of our squad and we enjoyed some major successes with him." |
| Cole, meanwhile, still insists he did nothing wrong in making his move from his boyhood club. | Cole, meanwhile, still insists he did nothing wrong in making his move from his boyhood club. |
| He said: "Some people are going to agree with what I have done and some are not. But I didn't move for money. It was a point of principle. I didn't feel I was wanted. | He said: "Some people are going to agree with what I have done and some are not. But I didn't move for money. It was a point of principle. I didn't feel I was wanted. |
| "In any other job, if someone works for one company then goes to work for another it's not a problem. | "In any other job, if someone works for one company then goes to work for another it's not a problem. |
| "But if you do it as a footballer you are greedy and leaving for the money. I'm not going to say it's unfair because footballers have a great life. But it's not easy. | "But if you do it as a footballer you are greedy and leaving for the money. I'm not going to say it's unfair because footballers have a great life. But it's not easy. |
| "I think I am going to get stick when I go back there. Yet if I stayed at Arsenal I was still likely to get abuse. | "I think I am going to get stick when I go back there. Yet if I stayed at Arsenal I was still likely to get abuse. |
| "All through last season I had to deal with it and it's made me stronger and hopefully it can keep making me stronger." | "All through last season I had to deal with it and it's made me stronger and hopefully it can keep making me stronger." |