Post by jenelle on Jul 16, 2006 10:53:43 GMT
ARSENE WENGER last night told rebel defender Ashley Cole: "You're going nowhere."
The Arsenal boss is not ready to let Cole leave and expects him back in training in the next fortnight - but the feeling within the club is that he has played his last game for the Gunners.
The left-back has launched a fierce attack on Arsenal in his book, claiming he was insulted by the board and made a scapegoat to get back at Chelsea for tapping him up.
But Wenger insists that this will not change the fact that he wants the England player in his team.
Wenger said: "Ashley has two years to go on his contract and it is as simple as that.
"It is not important if I'm confident or not about him playing again. The most important thing is that he comes back like everybody else and practices and works hard for the team."
However, players at the club feel it is only a matter of time before an offer comes in that will be attractive enough to accept - with Chelsea at the top of the list along with Real Madrid.
Cole was caught in a tapping-up row after being pictured with Chelsea's Jose Mourinho at a London hotel, and he was upset by what he saw as Arsenal's lack of support when the story exploded.
Cole married Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy yesterday and if he gets his way he will soon be divorced from his boyhood club.
But Wenger doesn't seem ready to let Cole go. He said: "For a player to go somewhere there needs to be an agreement from three parties.
"One is the player and the other two are the clubs, and at the moment there is nothing concrete.
"Of course I want to keep Ashley. I have always had the same attitude. I think when Ashley Cole turns round he will see all the positive influences the club have had on his career.
"A player will always look to see who has helped him in life and Ashley is intelligent. I don't feel let down by him at all."
Arsenal were unable to score against League Two side Barnet as they kicked off their pre-season programme.
However, the only first-team regular to start was Alexander Hleb, with most of Wenger's men either still on holiday after the World Cup ... or at Cole's wedding.
The Arsenal boss is not ready to let Cole leave and expects him back in training in the next fortnight - but the feeling within the club is that he has played his last game for the Gunners.
The left-back has launched a fierce attack on Arsenal in his book, claiming he was insulted by the board and made a scapegoat to get back at Chelsea for tapping him up.
But Wenger insists that this will not change the fact that he wants the England player in his team.
Wenger said: "Ashley has two years to go on his contract and it is as simple as that.
"It is not important if I'm confident or not about him playing again. The most important thing is that he comes back like everybody else and practices and works hard for the team."
However, players at the club feel it is only a matter of time before an offer comes in that will be attractive enough to accept - with Chelsea at the top of the list along with Real Madrid.
Cole was caught in a tapping-up row after being pictured with Chelsea's Jose Mourinho at a London hotel, and he was upset by what he saw as Arsenal's lack of support when the story exploded.
Cole married Girls Aloud star Cheryl Tweedy yesterday and if he gets his way he will soon be divorced from his boyhood club.
But Wenger doesn't seem ready to let Cole go. He said: "For a player to go somewhere there needs to be an agreement from three parties.
"One is the player and the other two are the clubs, and at the moment there is nothing concrete.
"Of course I want to keep Ashley. I have always had the same attitude. I think when Ashley Cole turns round he will see all the positive influences the club have had on his career.
"A player will always look to see who has helped him in life and Ashley is intelligent. I don't feel let down by him at all."
Arsenal were unable to score against League Two side Barnet as they kicked off their pre-season programme.
However, the only first-team regular to start was Alexander Hleb, with most of Wenger's men either still on holiday after the World Cup ... or at Cole's wedding.