Robert Pires claims ‘he could see’ how one Arsenal starlet would replace Ashley Cole

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The Arsenal Invincibles side was full of quality all over the pitch, and replacing them was not an easy task for Arsene Wenger.

The Frenchman was renowned for his ability to find and trust young talent to step up into his first team, and this did make eventually transitioning away from an ageing Invincibles side slightly easier whilst also suffering financially whilst the Emirates Stadium was being built.

One unexpected departure was that of Ashley Cole in 2006. The left-back was arguably the best in the world in his position, but a fallout with the club over wages meant he joined Chelsea, much to the anger of the Arsenal fanbase.

Winger Robert Pires left for Villarreal in the same summer, but he has now explained how two years before his departure, he trusted Wenger in how he chose to eventually replace Cole.

READ MORE: Robert Pires’ best-ever Arsenal teammates

Robert Pires praises Arsene Wenger for faith in Gael Clichy

Speaking to club media, Pires explained how his full belief in Wenger meant he had confidence that a young Gael Clichy would one day be capable of replacing a player as good as Cole.

“I played a lot of times with Ashley, and it felt natural, we played so well together,” he stated of the England star.

“We had Gael Clichy too, who was just 18 that season, but I could see how good he would become.

“I always believed in Arsène Wenger when he brought players in, especially French players, we knew they would be very good.

“He knew the players there perfectly, so when he said that one day Gael could replace Ashley Cole, then we believed him.”

Did Gael Clichy become a success at Arsenal?

Whilst the Frenchman did enjoy a respectable career, it is safe to say that he did not adequately replace Ashley Cole at Arsenal, having initially joined to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Arsenal have not won a title since Cole’s departure, and whilst Clichy was impressive going forward at times, he was nowhere near as defensively solid as his predecessor.

Clichy did make 264 appearances for Arsenal before eventually joining Manchester City, but was part of defences which are remembered now as being leaky, and the reason why some incredible attacking players were let down in the hunt for major trophies.

Cole is not fondly remembered at all by the fanbase because of the circumstances of his departure, but he is still regarded as the greatest left-back in Arsenal’s history, and this was always going to be tough for Clichy to replace.