Arsenal have had some fine players over the years and while Chelsea obviously got the best version of Joe Cole, it could have been a different story.
Cole enjoyed a stellar career with the likes of West Ham, Chelsea and Liverpool, while he also enjoyed a fine international career.
He is very much considered part of a famous group to emerge from West Ham’s academy. However, according to Cole himself, it could have actually been Arsenal if not for first impressions.
Joe Cole’s reason for not wanting to sign for Arsenal
A lot of players will go with what their parents might want best when they are a youngster but for Joe Cole, his heart was set on West Ham after coming to London Colney for the day.
Speaking about his experience at Arsenal, Cole explained how a brief encounter made his mind up.
“I went to Arsenal, and Arsenal, being from round here, would be the logical one,” Cole revealed on the Beast Mode On podcast.
“Biggest club, best kids’ teams. But, I won’t say his name, the first time I walked into London Colney with my Mum and Dad and this fella in a suit walked past my Mum and didn’t open the door, he like left the door, shut the door.
“I played, this geezer was man-marking me, even as a 13-year-old I couldn’t get it out of my mind.
“I was thinking if I sign for Arsenal it’s easier for my Mum and Dad, they don’t have to get me to east London, but these people at West Ham are good people, I fell in love with them, they were good people.”
Joe Cole could have been an Arsenal Invincible
It’s always fun to look back and wonder what might have been but there is a very good chance Cole would have been part of the Invincibles squad.
He spent a few seasons impressing with West Ham before he got his big move to Chelsea back in 2003.
Of course, that year would be the season when Arsenal went on their incredible unbeaten run to win the league.
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Had Cole signed for the Gunners as a youngster, there’s every chance he’d have been a part of that first-team squad. Indeed, the knock on effect could have been massive, and we might never have seen a Robert Pires or Freddie Ljungberg even signed.
Ultimately, Cole won’t regret his decision now and in fairness, neither will Arsenal.
Still, Cole would have fitted in well at the Gunners and his style of player and willingness to entertain would certainly have gone down well with supporters.
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