Ball now in Cole's court: PFA

ARSENE WENGER'S insistence he wants Ashley Cole to remain at Arsenal was last night welcomed by the Professional Footballers' Association.

An independent panel is set to hear Cole's appeal against his £100,000 fine for making an illegal approach to Chelsea after the Arsenal full-back was found to be in breach of Premier League Rule K5, which governs approaches by contracted players to clubs.

The Gunners, though, maintain they do not want Cole to leave Highbury, and are keen to extend the England international's current deal. The 24-year-old, however, clearly felt aggrieved by what he saw as a lack of support from Arsenal, particularly vice-chairman David Dein, over the whole episode which had originated from stalled contract talks.