Cole could stay - van Persie

Arsenal striker Robin van Persie claims Ashley Cole is still "a real Arsenal boy" and believes he has a future at Highbury despite the recent tapping-up affair.

After being fined £100,000 for his part in the illegal contact with Chelsea, Cole's future in north London looks bleak.

But Dutch youngster Van Persie claims Cole - whom he regards as "the best left-back in the world" - can resurrect his Gunners career and win back the support of the fans.

Chelsea were fined £300,000 for their part in the illegal approach of Cole, who has so far failed to agree an improved contract with Arsenal.

Blues boss Jose Mourinho was hit with a £200,000 fine while his side had a three-point deduction suspended providing they are not found guilty of a similar offence next season.

Asked whether Cole's time at Arsenal is likely to be over after the affair, Van Persie told BBC Radio Five Live: "I hope not because he's a fantastic player.

In my eyes he's the best left-back in the world, so I hope he stays and I hope he has a happy face every day."

The meeting with Chelsea, which was brokered by his agent Jonathan Barnett and 'super-agent' Pini Zahavi, who acts on behalf of Chelsea, was severely embarrassing for Cole and he may prefer to leave Highbury than face the music.

The supporters' wrath may be the deciding factor but Van Persie believes Cole's Arsenal pedigree may be his saving grace.

Van Persie said: "I'm not sure. I think Ashley is a real Arsenal boy, I saw him in the last two or three months when it (the January 27 meeting) maybe happened and he was happy, he was laughing every day so I don't think so."

Cole, though, has won support from Jean-Marc Bosman, the former Belgian player who cleared the way for out-of-contract players to switch clubs for free by winning his own legal battle 10 years ago.

Cole looks set to take his case of restraint of trade to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and beyond as he appeals against his guilty verdict for approaching Chelsea.

But Bosman threw his weight behind Cole's campaign and said: "It's outrageous. If Ashley wanted me to come to London to support him publicly, I would be happy to do that. This is a restraint of trade and I am fully behind Ashley.

"If I worked in a bank and wanted to change to another bank I would be allowed to go and speak to them," he told The Sun.

"It's crazy that footballers in England cannot do that."