Red-hot Cole finally fits the bill as wise buy for Blues

Since the England left-back joined Chelsea in a deal which saw William Gallas and £5million going the other way in August 2006, Arsenal supporters have claimed their club got the better of the deal.

Yet while the Gunners brace themselves for another trophy-less season, Cole has a great chance of winning the Premier and Champions League this term.

The 27-year-old, who progressed through Arsenal's junior ranks, has already received one honour this term after Roberto Carlos asked for his shirt following the win over Fenerbahce on Tuesday which put the Blues in the semi-finals.

It is a sign the World Cup winner still regards Cole as one of the best left-backs in the game and his form in the last few weeks has begun to justify that tag.

His performances have been all the more impressive because he has beaten off the challenge of Wayne Bridge, while having to cope with problems in his personal life and the criticism he received for his behaviour towards referee Mike Riley during the Tottenham match last month.

Cole, who has struggled with an ankle injury for the majority of his time at Stamford Bridge, feels the key in his renaissance is a return to the kind of fitness levels he enjoyed when at Arsenal.

He said: "I am happy with the way I've played the last 10 games and hopefully I can keep it going for the rest of the season. I am more fit and it's down to the medical staff.

"They have got me fitter than last season and are managing the ankle injury I had last year much better.

"I'm doing different exercises to strengthen my back and groin which were a problem and causing my ankle to stiffen up.

"That seems to have gone now. I've been working hard in the gym and I'm just trying to keep myself fit for the rest of the season."

Cole is relishing the chance to get Chelsea to the Champions League Final in Moscow even though Arsenal's defeat to Liverpool means he has been robbed of the chance to truly haunt his former club by knocking them out of Europe.

Cole said: "I had no preference between playing Arsenal or Liverpool, we knew it would be tough whoever won that tie. We will go to Liverpool in the first leg with a lot of confidence.

"It is vital we get a goal away from home and hopefully keep a clean sheet at Stamford Bridge." However, Cole has told his team they will have to play a lot better than they did against the Turks to become European champions.

He said: "The other night we came off the pitch disappointed even though we had just got through to a semi-final because of the way we played.

"We looked like we had lost, but they were getting through our defensive lines too easily and we were far too stretched. But two months ago we were in a bad position and now we are fighting on all fronts."