One Chelsea fans view on A.Cole.

[South-African-Gooner]

This brought a smile to my face!!!

We signed Ashley Cole from Arsenal in a deal which eventually saw us pay £5m and Gallas go to Arsenal.

Given other activity in the transfer market by Chelsea, it didn't feel like the worst bit of business we had done. Cole was younger than Gallas and Gallas was a want away defender. Gallas was a great Chelsea player but not a player I ever warmed to as a personality. If I recall correctly, we were at that time without Bridgey following his nasty injury and a left back was required.

Whilst I'd built up quite a disliking for Ashley Cole, I think this was purely because he was an Arsenal player, my least favourite side. If the truth be told I was quite excited. Was I wrong to be excited? Two seasons on it seems I probably was. This hit home for me more yesterday seeing Clichy sprinting down the wing to the corner flag and slinging over a cross straight on to Adebyors head. Cole used to do this all the time but I've never seen it happen in a Chelsea shirt.

How do Arsenal do it? Lose a player at the top of his game - An England international. He moves and fails to reproduce his form and they bring in a youngster from the reserves and he settles right in and plays an almost identical way to the player they lost.

Is it style of play? Is Wenger better than any Chelsea coach? Or am I wrong? I'd love to hear your views.

Presently I think Bridgey deserves the left back spot. He and Belletti push forward more and that's how I want to see fullbacks play. When we have a holding midfielder we can afford to let them push on.

[South-African-Gooner]

Sorry i wanted to add "other - if so -what?" to the poll

[Wayno]

I think our style of play bring the best out of players

[REB]

fcuk cashly cole,,,
its all down to formations and wenger,, he puts player in a comfortable place in the team unless he's stuck,, cole had freedom to attack at the arsenal and now he's just a defender and is been found out because he's not a good one and it was his speed down the wings that we used to see him at his best

[samstrange]

Wenger changes the way that players perform.

When there at arsenal, wenger makes them play the way he wants them too (passing and moving). Arsenal are the only club in the prem who do this perfectly so other clubs dont try to perfect it, they opt for the long ball instead. Which is why when players leave, they go downhill.

[the_gooner89]

good view samuel.

I believe it ha a lot to do off the pitch away from training. I think the team bonding skills wenger has brought to arsenal allows each player to know his team mates game inside out. I hear there always going for meals together ect..

It also has alot to do with the training, wenger is keen on the five a side, he said its his fave drill. Theres alot more to five a side they meets the eye and wenger brings the technical side out superbly.

[WengerKnows]

Even when Cashley played for us he was rubbish at crossing , this was because our game was more about speed and playing quick , precise short passes . We rarely ever scored or attempted headers and so his lack of crossing was never exposed . He was great for our system , and complimented the ability of pires and henry who usually were the other 2 attacking from the left .

Infact until fairly recently even Clichy was not very good on crosses but i would guess that Wenger has changed his practice sessions to put a greater emphasis on crossing to take advantage of Ade , Bendtner and Eduardo all of whom are good in the air .