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Ashley Cole once claimed that striker who left Chelsea for free was actually better than Dennis Bergkamp at Arsenal

Lucas Arnold

Thu 13 March 2025 15:30, UK

After making a very controversial move across London back in 2006, Ashley Cole actually ended up making more appearances for Chelsea than Arsenal. 

Arsene Wenger always regretted Cole’s departure, a full-back who went𝔍꧙ on to win 107 caps for England as well some serious club honours.

Cole won the Prem𓂃ier League three times𓆏, seven FA Cups, and the Champions League, Europa League and League Cup once.

A phenomenal player, who probably doesn’t regret his own decision to leave Arsenal given what he went on to achieve in west London.

Of course, Cole now works for the English FA in coaching capacity, where he’ll now be supporting former Blue, Thomas Tuc💞hel.

Ashley Cole explains why Didier Drogba was ahead of Dennis Bergkamp

Back in 2019, Cole was given the difficult task of choosing his combined XI from Arsenal and Chelsea players he featured alongside in his career.

Cole lined up his former teammates in a 4-4-2 formation, and while none of his picks were too controversial, the defender did omit Dennis Bergkamp in favour of Didier Drogba.

READ MORE: Chelsea legend Didier Drogba once named the two toughest centre-backs he ꦯever faced in the Premier League

Understandably, Thierry Henry w🐭as a non-negotiable, but Cole’s decision between Bergkamp and Drogba was a lot harde🍸r.

But when reflecting on what they acܫhieved together at Stamford Bridge, Cole felt he had to c💧hoose Drogba.

Explaining his decision, Cole said: “He’s definitely one of the best players I’ve ever played with, he’s a great guy, but I’ve got to le🧜ave him out, Bergkamp.

ܫ“I’m serious, a𓂃nd the reason is I don’t think I played with him long enough for him to be in front of Drogba.

“Listen, the stuff I’ve seen him do in training – it’s too hard to pick but if it weren’t for Drogba I wouldn’t have a Champions Leag✱ue medal around my neck.”

Dennis Bergkamp’s record compared to Didier Drogba

As a result, it is therefore interesting to compare the two sꦏtriker’s records for Arsenal and Chelsea respectively.

Before leaving Chelsea for Shanghai Shenua on a free transfer in 2012, Drog♐ba won all kinds of honours with the club, and his goal against Bayern Munich will never be forgotten, certainly not by Cole.

Two phenomenal strikers, and it’s worth noting that Ian Wright said Bergkamp was the best player he eveꦺr played with.

As Cole did point out in fairness, perhaps that was a resul𒁃t of the two former Arsenal stars spending longer alongsi🍒de each other at the club.

But either way, both Bergkamp and Drogba were two of the best to ever grace Engl𝓡ish football, a strike partnership that could have won everything.