Arsenal made a very regrettable sale in 1992 as they let striker Andy Cole depart, and he would go on to achieve greatness.

Cole made just one appearance for Arsenal after coming through the academy, but he would go on to become one of the deadliest strikers in the history of the Premier League, winning five titles with Manchester United and scoring 187 goals in the competition across several clubs.

There are many regrets at Arsenal over the circumstances of his exit. Cole has recently opened up on his poor relationship with George Graham, and several players at the time were also frustrated that he was allowed to leave.

Cole has now slammed Arsenal legend Pat Rice for the role he played in his departure, and revealed that even 20 years after the event, he did not have a pleasant conversation with him.

Andy Cole slams Pat Rice for role in Arsenal departure in 1992

Speaking on The Overlap, Cole shared his frustration with Rice, who had given him unclear guidance over his Arsenal future around the time of his exit.

“I remember I made my debut and everyone believed ‘Cole is going to get a chance now’ and then he shipped me out on loan,” Cole stated of Graham.

“I ended up going on loan to Bristol City, and then I remember I was just about to play a game for Bristol City and Pat Rice called me in the hotel and said ‘Coley, Derby County are interested in you.’

“I said ‘oh OK Pat, is George prepared to sell me?’ He said to me, ‘Coley, I’ll get back to you, I’ll come back to you.’

“I saw Pat about two years ago in the Emirates, and he still didn’t tell me then. I mean that’s over twenty years, you know in that time there was a lot of nonsense like that.”

Who was Arsenal legend Pat Rice?

Cole clearly had problems with the Arsenal staff including Rice and beyond, but many fans will be surprised to hear him criticise his former youth coach given his status at the club.

Rice is one of the most influential figures in the club’s history. A right-back who made over 500 appearances, the Northern Irishman was an ever-present as Arsenal won the League and Cup double in 1971.

READ MORE: All Arsenal legends in the Premier League Hall of Fame from Henry to Wenger

He eventually became club captain, and lifted the FA Cup in this role, and after his retirement he became a youth coach at the club in 1984.

This was where he encountered the prodigal Cole, but it seems that perceptions of his attitude from both Rice and Graham were skewed, and they would come to regret letting him go.

Rice then became Arsene Wenger’s assistant when he joined in 1996, and held this role until the end of the 2011-12 season. All in all, Rice has held a role, either playing or coaching, at the club for 44 years.