Wenger: Cole's certain to stay

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Arsene Wenger: new attack on Chelsea

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger today insisted Ashley Cole would reject the advances of Chelsea and sign a new Highbury contract.

But in a new attack on Chelsea ahead of tomorrow night's Premiership clash at Stamford Bridge, Wenger compared their behaviour to a philanderer.

And he said he was surprised that the Premiership leaders might have been caught out again in their dealings with Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

He said: "You cannot accept that people come under your window and talk to your wife every night without asking what is happening there.

"If it has happened again then I am quite surprised. We all have to respect the rules.

"If we do not respect the rules I expect us to be punished and I expect that to happen to everybody that does not respect the rules.

"That's why I said from the start we could only be losers in this story. We either let them get on with it or we want to know what happened."

He added that he was "100 per cent sure" Cole would eventually agree a new deal with Arsenal.

He also said he was confident the England left-back would not be distracted by the controversy during tomorrow's match.

Wenger said: "I've spoken to him over the weekend and I'm not concerned. The most important thing for him is to win the game. I have no special concerns-about him dealing with the situation-He has enough experience." Arsenal's preparations for the FA Cup Final are certain to be overshadowed after the Premier League set the date for the Cole inquiry just three days before their Cardiff showdown with Manchester United.

The dates for the hearing had been set for 25 and 26 April but Chelsea, who are now under fire for chief executive Peter Kenyon's night out with United's Ferdinand, asked for a delay.

The case will now be heard on 17 and 18 May and will finish just three days before Wenger's side take on United at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Arsenal are not party to the inquiry, which will examine whether Cole and Chelsea broke Premier League rules by meeting at a London hotel in January.

But they are certain to be upset at the latest twist in the saga, which will disrupt the build-up to what has now become their biggest match in an otherwise disappointing season.

United must decide whether to put fresh pressure on Chelsea over the Ferdinand controversy and call for a second probe into their transfer conduct.

Today the United manager urged the England centre-half to commit his future to the Old Trafford club.

Ferguson said: "The best thing Rio can do is sign his contract and put the matter to bed. He says he wants to sign for the club and now he has a chance to do just that.

"We have offered him a good deal and hopefully something can be done in the next few days."

 

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