ASHLEY COLE insists he would like to stay at Arsenal — and even one day take over as captain.
The England left-back had threatened to quit Highbury following his Chelsea tap-up scandal.
But boss Arsene Wenger has assured Cole the club will meet his £70,000-a- week pay demand — putting him in the same wage bracket as Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.
With a new deal on the horizon, Cole even hopes to follow Vieira as skipper.
He said: “You never know what’s going to happen in football — but I’d love to be captain.”
Cole would also love Arsenal to have Chelsea and Manchester United’s money — and reckons they must spend to be title contenders next term.
He said: “The club needs to invest to avoid being left behind. We’ve got a great young squad but we’d have got out of jail with more experience.
“It is quite hard when you see Manchester United and Chelsea buying big- name players and chucking their money around.”
With Chelsea 11 points clear, Cole has written off the Premiership. But he says Arsenal still have much to play for — starting with Saturday’s FA Cup semi against Blackburn.
He said: “It would be nice if we can get to the final and give something back to the fans.”
Key to Arsenal’s hopes is England defender Sol Campbell, who has been out for two months with Achilles and ankle trouble.
But he can prove his cup fitness in the reserves at Watford tonight.
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Like Reyes, I give up.
The England left-back had threatened to quit Highbury following his Chelsea tap-up scandal.
But boss Arsene Wenger has assured Cole the club will meet his £70,000-a- week pay demand — putting him in the same wage bracket as Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira.
With a new deal on the horizon, Cole even hopes to follow Vieira as skipper.
He said: “You never know what’s going to happen in football — but I’d love to be captain.”
Cole would also love Arsenal to have Chelsea and Manchester United’s money — and reckons they must spend to be title contenders next term.
He said: “The club needs to invest to avoid being left behind. We’ve got a great young squad but we’d have got out of jail with more experience.
“It is quite hard when you see Manchester United and Chelsea buying big- name players and chucking their money around.”
With Chelsea 11 points clear, Cole has written off the Premiership. But he says Arsenal still have much to play for — starting with Saturday’s FA Cup semi against Blackburn.
He said: “It would be nice if we can get to the final and give something back to the fans.”
Key to Arsenal’s hopes is England defender Sol Campbell, who has been out for two months with Achilles and ankle trouble.
But he can prove his cup fitness in the reserves at Watford tonight.
----------
Like Reyes, I give up.
