The Upshot Ashley Cole: girls allowed | Part one (with George Cooper)
Mar 31, 2026
George Cooper, returning Upshot contributor and football lore expert, revisits Ashley Cole’s scandal-filled rise. Short scenes cover his Arsenal breakthrough, wild off-field antics, the Old Trafford rivalries and pizza incident, Euro 2004 defensive acclaim, tabloid-fuelled romance with Cheryl, lurid nightlife rumours, and the lawsuits that followed.
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Arsenal Era Threesomes With Jermaine Pennant
- Ashley Cole and Jermaine Pennant routinely had threesomes during their Arsenal days, described with casual, almost cheerful detail.
- Jermaine recounts bringing a girl back, taking a “tea break,” and high-fiving over her, illustrating the era's permissive culture.
Cole's Sporting Peak Around Euro 2004
- Ashley rose from academy prospect to world-class left back during Arsenal's peak, becoming Europe's standout fullback by 2004.
- He cemented that status by shutting down Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2004 and making the UEFA Team of the Year.
Pizzagate Tunnel Brawl At Old Trafford
- The 2004 Arsenal v Manchester United clash ended Arsenal's long unbeaten run and produced a chaotic tunnel fracas.
- Cole recalls a slice of pizza hitting Sir Alex Ferguson and stopping the fighting as everyone laughed.
