The taunts from Arsenal fans simply fire me up, says Ashley Cole

The left-back has never been forgiven by the Gunners faithful for leaving them to join the Blues for a £5,000-per- week pay rise in 2006.

The Arsenal fans booed Cole again at Emirates Stadium on Sunday but he had the last laugh with an inspired display in Chelsea's 3-0 win.

In Standard Sport yesterday, Frank Lampard criticised the supporters for continuing to barrack Cole, who has now revealed he is not bothered by the boo-boys.

He said: "I've enjoyed coming back here [to the Emirates] now. Yes, I get booed but it's all fun. I have another win so I'm very happy. I have been at Chelsea for three-and-a-half years now and I have moved on in my head. It doesn't really bother me, it's life."

Cole, who aggravated a hamstring problem on Sunday, set up the first two goals in the win but he believes it is the team's defensive qualities which will be key to securing the title.

They haven't conceded at home since the opening day of the season and have kept a clean sheet in eight of their last nine matches in all competitions to open up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Cole said: "In the big games we defend well. Teams like Arsenal are going to get chances but we defended well as a team from up front with Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Joe Cole working hard. We know we will get a chance and score because these guys are on form at the minute.

"If we keep clean sheets then we know we will win games. That's what matters in the big matches and if you want to win the League you have to beat these kind of teams and so far it is going well.

"Last year we didn't beat the top four sides and that cost us but so far so good. We have won these games."

The 28-year-old has made the headlines for a number of unsavoury incidents on and off the pitch over the years but feels his life has changed for the better. Midfielder Lampard believes his team-mate has developed into the best left-back in the world in the last two years and Cole added: "I think I have grown up. I had tough times but I'm happy with my life now.

"I enjoy life outside of football and that's what makes it enjoyable to get up, come here and train every day.

"It is nice for people to say I'm the best left-back. I never said I was the best or one of the best, I just want to keep playing, keep playing well and winning things and let other people talk.

"I'm just here to do a good job for my team. If the manager, players and fans are happy with what I'm doing that's all that matters to me."

Meanwhile, Andrey Arshavin admits he is partly to blame for Arsenal's faltering title challenge because he has yet to find his best form this season.

Arsenal are now 11 points behind Chelsea and Arshavin, who has scored just once in the last eight games, said: "It doesn't matter where I play, on the right side or the left, I don't think I've played that well. Only sometimes have I shown my full skills and I'm not sure why that is."