My biggest regret as Arsenal manager – Arsene Wenger

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has candidly admitted that his choice to permit defender Ashley Cole to depart the Gunners and join Chelsea in 2006 remains the “greatest regret of his life.”

Wenger, who served as Arsenal’s manager for an impressive 22 years from 1996 to 2018, achieved significant success during his tenure, including three Premier League titles and seven FA Cup trophies.

Reflecting on his time at the North London club, the Frenchman has opened up about one of his most profound errors, highlighting his decision to allow Cole to leave the Emirates 17 years ago.

“I would say of the player who left Arsenal who had a very big career after Arsenal is Ashley Cole,” Wenger said on the Seaman Says podcast.

“He was the only one who moved on and fulfilled his career and it was a regret of my life.

“Recently we had a meeting, I was glad he was in the meeting, because he had a bad feeling and I had a regret that he left the club at the time.”

Wenger also disclosed that Arsenal were ‘close’ to signing both Cristiano Ronaldo and N’Golo Kante during his time at the club.

“I missed many great players, we missed Ronaldo, he was close to signing for us, Kante… you miss many but it is part of every football club,” he added.