‘We didn’t do enough!’ David Dein issues heartfelt apology to Arsenal Invincible

Cole’s defection to the Gunners’ local rivals represented a changing of the Premier League guard as the balance of power shifted from north to west London where the Roman Abramovich era was in full swing.

Arsenal’s refusal to meet Cole’s salary expectations allowed Chelsea the opportunity to sign a player who was already considered the best player in the world in his position.

After an infamous clandestine meeting with Jose Mourinho and Chelsea’s then chief executive, Peter Kenyon, Cole secured his move to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2006 and went on to become one of the most decorated players in the history of English football.

The left-back’s departure, meanwhile, prompted the break-up of Arsenal’s Invincible team as Arsene Wenger attempted to keep his club competitive, while also dealing with the financial ramifications of the move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium.

Dein, whose own acrimonious departure from Arsenal soon followed, admitted the failure to retain the services of an academy graduate still rankles with him and could easily have been avoided.

‘I regret we didn’t do enough at the time to keep him at the club. It was also at at a time when we were talking about building the stadium.

‘The finances, the tensions were raging about how we were going to finance it we were watching every penny and consequently we didn’t do enough to keep him and I regret that with hindsight.

‘Ashley, if you’re listening I’m sorry.’