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The boyhood Arsenal fan opted against picking the Blues’ league win under Carlo Ancelotti when choosing his most emotional topflight triumph.
The Premier League’s latest Hall of Fame inductee, Ashley Cole, has chosen the title success that he holds close to his heart.
Cole won the league three times throughout a successful career in which the former Arsenal and Chelsea left-back notched the FA Cup seven times, the League Cup once, and claimed a previously elusive Champions League success with the Blues in 2012 while adding the Europa League title the following year.
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Ashley Cole becomes the 22nd Premier League Hall of Fame inductee
Honoured on Monday for his Premier League contributions, the retired defender, who made 385 topflight appearances for both London giants, was part of Arsene Wenger’s group that went the entire campaign undefeated in 2003-04.
Cole’s relationship with his boyhood club soured, leading to an eventual departure for the Gunners’ cross-town rivals in West London, and the retired wide defender would then help Carlo Ancelotti’s team to a Premier League success in 2009-10, ending Manchester United’s three-year reign as topflight champions.
Ashley Cole picks favourite Premier League title win
However, neither triumph is Cole’s favourite, with the 43-year-old choosing his very first title with Arsenal in the 2001-02 campaign.
“Winning my first Premier League title was certainly special,” said the Premier League’s 22nd Hall of Fame inductee. “To lift that trophy in front of my friends and family and celebrate with your teammates after a gruelling 38-game season is amazing.
“Being a boyhood Arsenal fan, I was living out a dream just pulling on the shirt and playing for the first team. Playing in front of amazing fans so close to the pitch at Highbury, so intimate and, for me, one of the most beautiful stadiums.
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"That feeling is hard to explain. Growing up, all I knew was loving Arsenal Football Club. If I had to pick one that meant the most to me emotionally, I’d go with that.”
Despite fond memories of both titles with Arsenal, the former left-back believes he played his best football in that 2009-10 campaign at Stamford Bridge.
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“All through my years of playing in the Premier League, the 2009/10 season was the best year I played,” Cole said. “I felt physically the best I've ever felt. I felt very confident going into every game. I felt I was one of the best left-backs going forward - it was my most goal contributions - and I felt I could defend.
"That was due to Carlo Ancelotti's influence.”
The retired left-back has delved into coaching since hanging up his boots in August 2019, working with the England U21 squad. He previously held roles at Derby County, Chelsea and Everton.
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