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Arsenal's winning culture was 'falling apart' - Ashley Cole reveals reasons for Chelsea move in 2006

Getty Images
Getty Images

Ashley Cole has revealed how a change in Arsenal's winning culture and the departure of key players convinced him to leave and join London rivals Chelsea.

The left-back was involved in one of the most controversial transfer sagas in recent memory 15 years ago, having met Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in January 2005 to discuss a transfer while still at Arsenal in what was ruled a breach of regulations regarding clubs approaching contracted players.

Chelsea were handed a £300,000 fine and a suspended three-point deduction, while Cole and Mourinho were eventually fined £75,000 each on appeal.

A year later, Cole completed a £5million transfer to Arsenal on deadline day, with William Gallas moving in the opposite direction.

He enjoyed a successful eight-year spell at Stamford Bridge, making 336 appearances and winning seven trophies including the Premier League and Champions League.

Despite playing a key part in Arsenal's 'Invincibles' season in 2003/04, Cole's switch to west London made him an unpopular figure at the club where he began his career.

But the 39-year-old says he could sense a change in the club's direction when key players started to leave - and that is what convinced him to follow them out of the door.

Ashley Cole enjoyed plenty of success under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea Photo: Getty Images
Ashley Cole enjoyed plenty of success under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea Photo: Getty Images

"The transition in terms of being in a different group, environment and players was easy because, at the time when I first started at Arsenal, we had a core – the Keowns, the Seamans, the Vieiras, the Henrys, the Adams'," Cole told BBC Sport.

"When they started to leave, I felt there were holes in the culture of what it was that brought success. I just felt it was falling apart a bit, or there were gaps missing, and they weren't filled.

"So that transition in terms of finding myself in a different culture and the willingness and want to win, I went to Chelsea, and I had that."

Cole previously wrote in his autobiography that he "nearly swerved off the road" when he learned of Arsenal's contract offer of £55,000-a-week, while Chelsea were reportedly offering a weekly wage of £90,000.
But he insists that money didn't play an important part in his decision to leave the Gunners.

"I was probably a little bit too stubborn at the time and felt a little bit hard done by," he added.

Cole celebrates winning the FA Cup in 2005 with Edu and Freddie Ljungberg Photo: Getty Images
Cole celebrates winning the FA Cup in 2005 with Edu and Freddie Ljungberg Photo: Getty Images

"I was a little bit babyish, to be honest, but it's something I won't ever regret, and I wouldn't ever change that situation.

"It's just something that happened. Maybe it was meant to be, who knows? But I definitely feel unjust about it because it wasn't what people think in terms of money.

"It's crazy, but that was probably the last thing on my mind."

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