Former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has identified the club’s former player Ashley Cole as the Premier League’s best left-back ever.
Wenger also described the former England international as a ‘fighter’.
The Frenchman said this while hailing Cole after the former Chelsea star became the 22nd Premier League Hall of Fame inductee on Monday.
Wenger coached Cole during their time together at Arsenal in the past.
When asked to rank Cole among the greatest Premier League left-backs, Wenger said (via Premier League’s official website): “It’s always difficult to make a hierarchy, but he is 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 from Ashley Cole. They are all a similar size, but they are all big characters, and that shows you that the size at the back is not so important, especially on the flanks.”
“He’s a fighter. One of the strengths of Ashley is his character, his confidence in himself.”
Cole left Arsenal to join Premier League rival Chelsea in 2006.