Best Premier League XI Ever

Left Back: Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole Chelsea Header
Anthony Devlin/PA Archive/Press Association Images

After the nice, gentlemanly break of Vincent Kompany, we’re back to the pantomime villains with Ashley Cole. Having enjoyed success at Arsenal and Chelsea as well as being the world’s best left back for stretches of the ‘00s, Cole was practically an automatic pick, despite his unpopularity.

Denis Irwin and Patrice Evra are his only real contenders, and they’re both quite a way off Cole’s standards.

When Cristiano Ronaldo was asked who his toughest Premier League opponent was, the Portuguese wide man answered Ashley Cole in a heartbeat. Not as gung ho going forward as modern day full backs, nor as good whipping the ball in as Gary Neville, Cole was simply a brick wall for wingers.

Though capable of drifting forward, he was at his best holding firm, making sure nobody got past him, recycling play through Patrick Vieira, Claude Makélélé or Michael Essien in the middle of the park.

With three titles to his name and countless other cup wins, it’s safe to say that Cole’s style was incredibly effective.

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