Cole attacked as Arsenal lose

Steve Stammers13 April 2012
Roma 1 Arsenal 0

Ashley Cole today described how he was attacked by an Austrian fan after Arsenal's game against Italian champions Roma.

Last night's attack, at the Alpenstadion in Kapfenberg near Graz, came just months after the 20-year-old was bombarded with missiles during England's win against Albania in Tirana.

The defender said: "It was a bit scary. The guy came up to me after the final whistle and asked for my shirt. It seemed to me he had been drinking.

"Anyway, I said no and he took a swing at me. I was able to get out of the way and back to the dressing room. I wasn't hurt but it does make you think that it is dangerous to let the fans come on to the pitch as they have in all our friendly games here."

Manager Arsene Wenger said: "Of course you worry someone could get hurt, particularly the way they have let the fans on the pitch at the end in all three games. After one of the matches we literally could not get out of the dressing room. In future we will ask for extra security."

Striker Thierry Henry was also involved with a fan who snatched his swapped Italian shirt. Henry chased after him and got it back.

Meanwhile, the friendly game was the nearest Arsenal could have expected to a full-scale workout ahead of the Premiership season.

The one-goal defeat courtesy of a Vincenzo Montella goal seconds before half-time was irrelevant. But the eight days that Wenger has spent with his new-look squad in their Alpine retreat have been invaluable.

The new men like Sol Campbell, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Richard Wright, Francis Jeffers and Junichi Inamoto have acclimatised to the Arsenal way.

"To be away like this has certainly helped, especially the last week with the training they have done," said Wenger. "It has helped them adapt to the system we have and to integrate with the rest of the players."

In the previous matches against the Turks of FC Kocaelispor, Wenger made mass changes as early as halftime. Against Roma, it was 70 minutes before there was any hint of a mix and match approach. Campbell was given the first 45 minutes from which he emerged unscathed after ankle problems, but in which he was also shown the swiftness of thought that will be needed after Francesco Totti turned him with alarming ease.

But Campbell needs games, as does Jeffers, and Wenger said: "What we needed was more sharpness in the last 25 yards. That is where we didn't win the game. We had an early chance with Freddie Ljungberg and didn't take it. When you play at the top level, at European Cup level, that kind of goal is very important."

However, the positive vibes that have been evident from Wenger throughout the last week survived last night's setback.

"I have learned in the last three games that we are now ready to play at a good pace and that we looked solid defensively," he said. "Yes, I am still optimistic. We have more players, a bigger squad and although we could not call on Ray Parlour, Lee Dixon and Martin Keown against Roma because they had slight knocks, we have no serious injuries."

Wenger insists that he has yet to decide on the team that will play Middlesbrough on 18 August. But it is safe to assume that, on the evidence of the Austrian excursion, several places are assured.

David Seaman has clearly made the number one position his own. Tony Adams, impressive in a full 90 minutes last night, is the most natural leader at the club and Cole looks more and more assured.

Patrick Vieira has shown no illaffects from his summer of unwanted headlines and Robert Pires has shown magnificent form and will certainly blossom further. Giovanni van Bronckhorst oozes class and Thierry Henry gets better and better with maturity.

Still to be resolved are whether Campbell or Keown partner Adams, who links up with Henry in a contest between Sylvain Wiltord, Jeffers and Dennis Bergkamp and whether Ljungberg or Parlour will play in the wideright role. Cameroon international Lauren is clearly the long-term successor to Lee Dixo

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