Football story by Boris Webb, Mon, 07 Aug 2006 11:32:01 GMT


LONDON - Ashley Cole is all set to leave Arsenal after he was dropped out of the Gunners' squad who travel to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier.

Though Cole has been named in the squad list submitted to UEFA, he will be eligible to play for other teams as long as he is not played in the qualifiers against Dinamo Zagreb. The 25 year-old has been persistently linked with a move to rivals Chelsea and the matter got worse after he published his autobiography, in which he has criticized the club for the lack of support offered to him during the player's tapping-up scandal with Chelsea. Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has admitted that there have been initial talks with Chelsea but they are holding out for £25million though Chelsea had agreed to pay the £20 million asked by the Gunners.

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Though Arsenal have dropped Cole on fitness grounds, many see this as a confirmation that the left back will not be playing at the Gunners' new stadium this season. This move has given Arsenal a two-week breather to confirm the deal. Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has stayed back in London to try and complete the deal rather than travel with the team to the US for their pre-season friendly against the MLS All Stars.

Meanwhile Arsenal target, Franck Ribéry, had also been dropped from the Marseilles squad, which faced Sedan in their French league match after the winger made public his decision to leave the club.