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Top 25 Arsenal players of the Premier League era - #9

Sports Mole's countdown of the 25 greatest Arsenal players in the Premier League continues with number nine - Ashley Cole.

Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole in action for Arsenal on September 09, 2000.© Getty Images

For all the animosity which greeted Ashley Cole's controversial switch to Chelsea in 2006, most Arsenal fans would begrudgingly accept the full-back's place in the top 10 of this countdown.

Having come through the ranks in North London, Cole soon became an important member of Arsene Wenger's side which won the Premier League and FA Cup double in 2002, making 40 appearances across all competitions that season.

The England international went on to help the Gunners to two more FA Cup crowns in 2003 and 2005, in addition to being a key part of the Invincible side of 2004 as Arsenal became the first team to go through an entire Premier League season unbeaten.

Cole helped that unbeaten run stretch to 49 matches and, despite suffering from injury problems during the 2005-06 campaign, he recovered in time to feature in the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona that season.

The acrimonious departure to Chelsea followed that summer, with Cole having made 228 appearances for the club across all competitions, including 156 in the Premier League.

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A general view of the outside of the stadium ahead of the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Sunderland at Emirates Stadium on May 20, 2015
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Liverpool33228375324374
3Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves33127144653-743
12Fulham34126165054-442
13Bournemouth33119134860-1242
14Crystal Palace3399154256-1436
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton33108153448-1430
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3337233188-5716


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