Wenger Rates Ashley Cole As Premier League's Greatest Left-Back

Earlier this week, Cole became the 22nd inductee into the Premier League's hall of fame.

Cole won the Premier League twice with Arsenal and once with Chelsea.

He retired in 2019, having made 385 Premier League appearances.

Wenger managed Cole at Arsenal and while the defender left the Gunners for Chelsea on bitter terms in 2006, the Frenchman would not begrudge the status of the former England international in Premier League history.

"I arrived in 1996, and Ashley Cole was 16 years old," said Wenger. "Pat Rice was the coach of the youth team before I arrived, and he said, 'He has character. He's a fighter. Have an eye on him.'

"One of the strengths of Ashley is his character, his confidence in himself. He's quiet, so he doesn't come into your office and say, 'Why do I not play?' He just believes in his strengths. He has no inhibition.

"When he played his first game, you feel straightaway this guy is made to be at this level. You think straightaway, 'I will have a problem to take him out again.' That's what you want from players. He had that."

"In England he has a high level of consideration and appreciation," said Wenger of Cole. "Time will heal the wounds, and he will be recognised as one of the great defenders of Arsenal Football Club.

"He's in a good position, and I'm happy for him. Recently we had a meeting with the 2003/04 Invincibles team, and he is back with the team now. I was very happy that he's in there and back to where he belongs."

As to where Cole ranks among the greatest Premier League left-backs, Wenger said: "It's always difficult to make a hierarchy, but he's certainly the best.

"I must say I was lucky because I had great left-backs when I arrived. Nigel Winterburn was outstanding.

"It's funny because our left-backs were always small. Winterburn, Sylvinho, Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy, who took over after from Ashley Cole. They're all a similar size, but they're all big characters, and that shows you that the size at the back is not so important, especially on the flanks.

"It's mobility, technical quality, the understanding of the game that makes a difference. And the character because they're all small but tough.

"He's honestly one of the few players who I always say that moved on and continued to develop, and that shows remarkable intelligence and remarkable consistency in the effort.

"When you look at what he did at the club level and the number of games he has, over 100 caps for England, it shows remarkable consistency. That is always the mark of a big player.

"Today he’s a coach. I didn't necessarily expect that from him, but the vibes I've had from people is that he's a very good coach, and that sums him up: doesn't talk too much, but when he does something, he tries to be as good as he can be, and it shows."