Cole will be axed again for Arsenal clash

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Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is set to leave Ashley Cole out of Monday’s derby against the England man’s former club Arsenal.

Mourinho has recently deployed Cesar Azpilicueta at left-back in Cole’s place and plans to do so again at the Emirates Stadium, where a win against the leaders would take Chelsea to the top of the Premier League.

Cole returned to the side for this week’s Capital One Cup defeat at Sunderland, where Azpilicueta played at right-back in the absence of the suspended Branislav Ivanovic.

But with Ivanovic available again and Azpilicueta having recovered from a knock, Mourinho revealed that Cole would be “on the bench or at home” when his team face the Gunners.

The Blues boss explained: “I will play Ivanovic at right-back and Azpilicueta at left-back.

“Ashley will not be playing from the beginning unless something happens between now and Friday.”

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