The Arsenal defender has since signed a new contract to stay at the club at least until 2008, but his legal team insist he has given his backing to a legal challenge of his Premier League fine.

This would involve taking a case of restraint of trade to the CAS and ensure that, rather than putting the issue behind him, Cole becomes a legal test case.

Wenger declared: “My advice is to the solicitor more than Ashley Cole. I believe that Ashley is focused on his career and the quality of his games.

“The solicitors always want to take it further. It is in their interests. But can you imagine if, in the whole of football, everyone can talk to everybody and leave at any moment?”

The Arsenal boss is reluctant to become embroiled in any sort of further difference of opinion with Cole, even if the defender evidently instructs his own solicitors.

However, Wenger has already described the potential scenario of any successful legal challenge as “chaos”, with clubs likely to become reluctant to give long-term contracts to all but the very best players.

Above all, he is nevertheless relieved that following Cole’s decision to stay at Arsenal, the club’s fans have welcomed him back into the fold despite his talks with Chelsea.

“Ashley has had a very good reception but fans are very forgiving if there is a happy end to the story and if the player is top quality,” said Wenger.

“At the end of the day, fans want to see good players, because they want to win the game. Their pride comes from the fact that their team is doing well. For him to have left, would have felt a little bit as a disaster by them.”

Cole was certainly fully committed during the Community Shield clash with Chelsea almost a fortnight ago, even though the Blues won 2-1, and will again be involved in the Barclays Premiership rematch tomorrow at Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal should be almost at full strength for that game, with Gilberto, who was only a substitute in Cardiff due to a lack of match sharpness, now back in the starting line-up and Jose Antonio Reyes available after a one-match ban.

Sol Campbell will, however, still be missing as Wenger looks to continue his record of not having lost a league game to Chelsea in almost nine years at Arsenal, with this being his 500th match in charge of the club.

“It is a massive game. First because we want to win the title and, to do so, you exist in big games. At the end of the season, these points will count double,” he said.

“Your strength and dominance in the league comes down to how well you do in these games.”