Cole is known for his substantial pace, which is often used to great effect in supporting and overlapping the left-winger in front of him; in recent seasons that has been Robert Pires. Critics have said his attacking talents conceal defensive weaknesses, though Cole's rapid ascension into the Arsenal and England teams at a young age demonstrates that the teams' respective managers have confidence in his abilities.

He was fined by the Premier League £100,000 on June 2, 2005 for a meeting in a hotel room in January 2005 between himself, the Chelsea manager José Mourinho, Chelsea chief executive, Peter Kenyon, and his agent Jonathan Barnett. An appeal in August 2005 did not reject the guilty verdict, but his fine was reduced to £75,000. Chelsea were also fined £300,000 and Mourinho was fined £200,000, reduced on appeal in August 2005 to £75,000.

In 2005 he became engaged to Cheryl Tweedy, the popular singer from British chart-topping act Girls Aloud.

Club career

Cole has been at Arsenal since he was a teenager, and signed as a professional on February 25, 2000. He made his debut for the first team on November 30, 1999 against Middlesbrough at the age of 18, although this was his only appearance of that season. Before fully breaking into the Arsenal side, he spent part of the 1999-2000 season on loan at Crystal Palace, where he played 14 league matches. After an injury to Silvinho, Arsenal's established Brazilian left-back, in autumn 2000, Cole came in as his replacement, and remained first-choice even after Silvinho's recovery.

With Arsenal, he has won the Premiership twice (in 2002 and 2004), and the FA Cup three times (in 2002, 2003 and 2005).

Despite publicly stating his desire to leave Arsenal and play elsewhere, Cole signed a one year extension to his contract on 18th July 2005. His current salary is thought to be £70,000 per week, although it is rumoured that the contract includes a get-out clause, which will allow him to leave after the 2005/06 season. He has recently attracted attention from Real Madrid, who are reportedly looking to buy him as a future replacement for aging Brazilian left back Roberto Carlos.

International career

Cole made his England debut against Albania, on March 28, 2001. In May 2005, he won his 40th cap, though he has never scored for the national side. He was also named as one of four England players in the Euro 2004 all-star squad and, fitness and form permitting, will continue to be England's first choice left back at the 2006 World Cup. Cole currently has 44 caps.