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Frank Lampard has criticised Arsenal's fans for their constant abuse of Ashley Cole during Chelsea's 3-0 win at Emirates Stadium.
Gunners supporters have never forgiven Cole for moving to Stamford Bridge in 2006 in a deal that took William Gallas in the opposite direction.
The England left-back has now played for Chelsea three times at Emirates Stadium and yet the level of vitriol he has to endure shows no sign of reducing.
The hatred stems from a belief that Cole, a schoolboy at Arsenal, only moved for money after he turned down what he believed to be an inadequate £5,000-per-week pay rise to stay with the Gunners.
But Lampard says Arsenal fans contributed to their own team's downfall by jeering Cole from the start and said: “I don't think booing ever works. I don't know when people will learn that it's not the way to do it.
“I think the best thing is to stay quiet, watch the game and cheer on your own team. Putting all your efforts into just getting someone psyched up to do a good job against your team is obviously the wrong way to go about it.”
Cole answered the boo-boys by setting up Chelsea's first two goals with superb crosses — the first turned in by the excellent Didier Drogba and the second an own goal by Thomas Vermaelen — and also helped ensure Arsenal provided little attacking threat at the other end with a solid defensive display.
Having been heavily barracked by both West Ham and England fans in the past, Lampard knows more than most how abuse can often inspire the target to a higher level of performance.
He added: “Ash is very experienced with dealing with it — he's had it a few times now and it obviously spurs him on to put in displays like he did.”
Drogba completed yesterday's rout just before full-time with a second goal, this time from a superb free-kick, and later insisted that Chelsea's victory proved they are mentally and physically stronger than anyone else.
The win helped the Blues to extend the lead in the table over their London rivals to 11 points and re-established a five-point gap between themselves and second-placed Manchester United.Carlo Ancelotti's side have beaten all three of the other members of the Big Four this term without conceding a goal. It was Arsenal's first home defeat of the campaign and Drogba believes the game showed Chelsea have an inner belief no other side can match.
He said: “Arsenal played their game but I think we were stronger than them. Every time we had the chance to score we did. Physically, we defended well and were really strong mentally.
“I don't know about Arsenal but it's our strength to perform when it matters. Even against United, when the game was difficult, we won. We know how to go through difficult periods when the game is hard.”
The striker is not taking winning the title for granted, though, and is looking for Chelsea to extend their lead. The Blues experienced how hard it is to come from behind in the past three seasons when they failed to prevent United from winning a hat-trick of titles.
Drogba hopes it is their turn to suffer and added: “It's true that United are still there. Now they have to come and catch us. I hope we have the team to stay ahead for the rest of the season.”
Reader views (18)
hope they boo Adebeyour on Wednesday!
- Paul, Manchester, 30/11/2009 16:41
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and in another section of the standard
Last Nazi trial: John Demjanjuk Sobibor death camp
Nazi war crime suspect greeted by boos after 30-year wait for justice.
tell lampard to read that!!
- Tony, london, 30/11/2009 16:17
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its all finger pointing, blame wenger, blame the board etc. arsenals pay policy and move to ashburton grove has hindered the club (though we did get told that to keep up with utd and chelsea we had to move home)but i ask my friends if the board said heres 100 million would he spend it? i think wenger, as much as he is loved by the fans, has become a victim of his own policy. and sean yes i agree, the only time you here us arsenal fans sing is when we boo or the spuds are in town
- Mark, N5, 30/11/2009 16:00
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Fact is we had another left back who was cheaper. Good business sense I think.
- Tony, Hove England, 30/11/2009 15:20
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But Arsenal fans are not bitter?
How many years without a trophy now?
Keep the booing up, Chelsea thrive on it.
- Lance Johnson, Canterbury, Kent, 30/11/2009 13:51
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The facts are that A Cole was promised something and then the Arsenal Board reneged on it. If the Arsenal crowd want to boo someone they should try their own Board - for following a pay policy that they subsequently broke anyway. And why shouldn't Lampard comment about the positive impact the booing had on a team mate. Sour grapes from poor (albeit experienced) losers
- Peter Bench, London, 30/11/2009 13:42
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Poor old Arsenal. Sanctimonious and self-righteous to the end.
- John Simmons, London/NYC, 30/11/2009 13:35
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I used to admire and respect Arsenal, and their manager Arsene Wenger, but no longer. The filth spilling from their mouths yesterday proves they no longer have class. They are no longer a top four club and their manager is now a failure. he has won nothing in years and his excuses yesterday were pathetic and childish, a bit like the gooner scum on the terraces.
I only wish it had been 5 or 6, we were that superior. Rottenham are better than Arsenal, and that's not saying much
- Kerry, Purley, 30/11/2009 13:26
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Girls, Girls, Girls they boo so much because they miss him. Boy do they miss him, Ha! Ha!
- Colin Stevens, Farmington, USA, 30/11/2009 13:23
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Arsenal supporters did not abuse Cole but it was Cole who attacked Arsenal ,he should thank Arsenal for what he is, because thanks to Arsenal he is somebody in football, instead he went behind their back to sell himself to get more money.
Lampard like ,Cole is greedy and that is why both of them are with Chelsea because Lampard was never a Chelsea Player
- A.Messina, Malta, 30/11/2009 13:12
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Slating another set of fans publicly eh, Frank? So when Gooners start giving you grief you'll be back to whinging about how unfair it all is and how you have no idea why they don't like little old you?
Grow up. For once.
- Stu, Beckton, 30/11/2009 12:50
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Marcel, Paxton
All I can say is "we are top of the league say we are top of the league"
- David, London, 30/11/2009 12:48
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Lampards criticism of the Arsenal fans is made redundant by the away supporters constant booing of Willy Gallas. An intelligent (cough) man like lampard should understand how life and football works by now: Teams and individuals with no principles will not be treated with respect by others.
- Stuart, N7, 30/11/2009 12:43
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It was actually good to hear the Arsenal fans boo as that was the only time you heard them throughout the game. Ashley Cole proved he is the best left back in the world yesterday and Arsenal proved that once again they will win nothing this year and probably the year after and the year after etc
- Sean, London, 30/11/2009 12:18
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look Arsenal took cole for granted, and offered him far less than another club would've, and far less than a fair replacement would have. they gambled and lost. their own stupid fault.
Heck, Chelsea paid him £80K per week, and Arsenal were only offering him £55k - why shouldn't he want to be respected, and paid what he's worth?
If Cole hadn't come up through Arsenal's youth team, they'd never have tried to low ball him. and frankly, its hard to say he's made the wrong decision in hindsight.
- Scotty, London, 30/11/2009 12:18
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Completely correct again Super Frank!
- Paul, London, 30/11/2009 12:14
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Fat Frank is correct, booing is always counter productive as it just motivates the player being booed more .... that's why we booed Eboue.
However, for the reason Cole left (his principles said he could get £60k a week at Chelski and not £55k and so had to go) ... our principles mean we have to boo him forever
- Marcel, London, 30/11/2009 11:49
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...And Lampard should learn to keep his mouth shut !
- Paxton, N17, 30/11/2009 10:12
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