Ashley Cole suggests Arsenal had a leader who was even better than Patrick Vieira and John Terry

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Ashley Cole is still viewed as a villain in North London, yet his memories at Arsenal are a lasting part of him.

Love him or loathe him, Cole is one of the best left-backs in Arsenal’s history, rising from the academy to become a two-time title winner in N5.

One of the highs of the Englishman’s career was becoming an Invincible in the 2003/04 season, and while he was a part of one of the Premier League’s best-ever squads, it was a player from another generation who left a mark on him.

Having been a teammate of John Terry, Patrick Vieira and other iconic Premier League captains, it’s another player who Cole regards as the best leader he’s worked with.

• READ MORE: Arsenal’s plan for Bukayo Saka has been changed because of Ashley Cole

Ashley Cole says Tony Adams is the best leader he played with

In a round of quick-fire questions with The Overlap, Cole was asked to name the best leader he experienced in his career.

With a second of thought, Cole named Tony Adams, nominating the Arsenal legend ahead of every other captain he played alongside.

When it comes to the Gunners’ Hall of Fame, the Englishman takes some beating, with even some players in the current Arsenal squad sharing Adams’ nickname of Mr Arsenal.

Do you think any future Arsenal captain will ever replicate Tony Adams’ success?

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Mr Arsenal is just what Adams was, captaining his only club to win Premier League titles in three different decades, making Cole’s answer unsurprising.

Not only was the centre-back as loyal and passionate as they come, but Adams was one of the best defenders of his generation, always leading by example at the back.

Tony Adams thinks Arsenal’s current leader is wrong

Adams might’ve hung up his boots in 2002, but that hasn’t prevented him from making the headlines this season.

Early into the campaign, Adams advised Mikel Arteta to take the captaincy away from Martin Odegaard, feeling as though Declan Rice would be a better leader.

Rice is a part of Arsenal’s leadership group, but Odegaard is the club captain, a title that isn’t expected to change any time soon.

The comment wasn’t that Odegaard isn’t a strong captain, but simply that, in his opinion, Rice is more suited to the role.

Some will agree with Adams and some will not, but given his record when wearing the armband for the Gunners, his advice is interesting.