Veteran Cole will not face the Gunners at The Emirates Stadium.
Ashley Cole’s frustrating exile from the Chelsea first team is set to continue against former club Arsenal on Monday, after Jose Mourinho confirmed the England international would not start the match.
Chelsea and Arsenal Combined XI!
England international Cole, 33, has not started a league match for Chelsea since 2 November and was pictured at a party on Wednesday night, hours after the Blues were dumped out of the League Cup by Sunderland.
“I keep my opinion to myself – it was a free day for them,” said Blues boss Mourinho.
“I’m not a father, I’m a manager.
“From the beginning Ashley’s not playing.”
Cole has started just 9 of Chelsea’s 16 league matches this season, with the right-footed Cesar Azpilicueta preferred at left back by the Portuguese recently.
But Mourinho admitted that circumstances could change over the weekend.
He continued: “But today is Friday, the game is Monday. Something can happen in between.
“I play Branislav Ivanovic right-back, I play Cesar Azpilicueta left-back, I play John Terry and I have to choose between Gary Cahill and David Luiz.”
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