Cole out for Gunners
Arsenal were handed a glimpse of life without Ashley Cole tonight as the full-back was ruled out of their clash against Crystal Palace through illness.
Cole, who is alleged to have been ‘tapped up’ by Chelsea recently, missed training yesterday after reporting ill with a high temperature and was replaced by French Under-21 left-back Gael Clichy.
Freddie Ljungberg was also out of the side at Highbury following an ankle injury, with unsettled winger Jose Reyes keeping his place.
While Sol Campbell was still out injured, Kolo Toure returned after a three-match ban to partner Pascal Cygan in central defence
Palace, who held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at home last November, had Gonzalo Sorondo back after a ban, while Aki Riihilahti also returned as Mikele Leigertwood and Darren Powell were both replaced.
Arsenal: Lehmann, Lauren, Toure, Cygan, Clichy, Pires, Vieira, Edu, Reyes, Bergkamp, Henry. Subs: Van Persie, Fabregas, Flamini, Senderos, Almunia.
Crystal Palace: Kiraly, Boyce, Hall, Sorondo, Granville, Routledge, Riihilahti, Hughes, Soares, Johnson, Freedman. Subs: Speroni, Leigertwood, Borrowdale, Kolkka, Lakis.
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire)
