Do you agree with O'Leary?

Since breaking into the Arsenal first team in 2001, Ashley Cole's defensive skills and stylish wing play have seen him make the left full-back berth his own.

But whilst making his name as one of England's brightest young prospects, Cole is also getting a reputation for going to ground far too easily.

The latest incident, a tackle by Birmingham City's Aliou Cisse earned him a red card, which has since been rescinded by referee Mike Reilly.

Former Arsenal man O'Leary was quick to condemn Cole, and Blues manager Steve Bruce called for ref Mike Riley to overturn the decision.

Do you condemn Cole, or is such play just part and parcel of the modern game?

OK, so Cole does have a tendency to get players sent off, but in this case I don't think he did anything wrong. At full speed, the slightest contact can hurt and take a player down. Often it only depends on which part of the body was hit - ie, was it a soft spot?

The booking may have now been rescinded, but if that had only been his first yellow, no-one would have questioned the decision. Sorry Blue-noses, but the tackle was reckless and Cisse is lucky to escape a ban.
Sean Fulton, UK

The desire to win should not result in the need to cheat.
Dick Yoong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I am a staunch Arsenal fan but I believe Ashley Cole made an absolute meal of the tackle. At the same time, I think it's hypocritical for someone who has been actively involved in football to term it as "digraceful".

It was an unfortunate incident, but it's been allowed to live in football and its almost part of the game now. If Bowyer or Viduka had done the same for Leeds last season, I'm curious to know what Mr O'Leary's comments would have been.
Biodun Gaffar, Nigeria

I think 'Ken Salt' has all the qualifications for a career as a referee!
Terry Howells, Hong Kong (UK)

It's nice to see all the Arsenal fans supporting their player. But for an uncommitted sports fan, the verdict must be that Ashley Cole should be ashamed of himself.
Mal Walker, Australia

Ashley Cole is a hugely talented player, but his antics on the football pitch to get players sent off are getting beyond a joke, and quite boring.

He dives, simple, and it's pathetic. He goes down as if he's been shot, and is in need of a major life saving operation. He's a great player, but he's building himself up a dangerous reputation.
Rob Eckland, UK

I am very sorry that English players have begun to behave like continental footballers. Fair play was always a trademark of the English game; it was appreciated for it in whole world.

I also think that such divings and similar unsporting behaviour can damage English football. For me, this episode represents something that I don't like at all, and I enjoy watching games less when such incidents happen.
Bogdan, Serbia

Ashley Cole isn't out of line, and no way was his "dive" disgraceful. If he's been labelled that because of one alleged dive, then tar all divers with the same brush, which includes the world greats like Rivaldo (remember the World Cup??).

Ashley needs to looked after and nurtured; then he'll be a world class left-back.
Pete, Wales

Well, it's obvious from the comments here that there are a lot of Arsenal fans with computers. Cole has started this season in exactly the same way as he started last season, by diving to get opposition players sent off. Why does he do it? I've no idea.

People refer to O'Leary's Leeds, but Smith, Mills and Bowyer were hardly divers and O'Leary himself was hardly a diver. Cole is a different model of player. He belongs to the Rivaldo school of theatrics, so why didn't he dive for England against Brazil?
Mark Gibbs, Indonesia

I've had enough of the cheating Arsenal players, whether it be them receiving red cards, or diving around to cause red cards. The FA should clamp down on players like Cole who persistently dive in order to get their fellow professionals sent off.
Raj Logan, Switzerland

Cisse should not have been sent off; poor refereeing decision, but it is unfair to pick on Cole on this occasion. He was off balance, fell as a result of what was a relatively minor contact and then GOT STRAIGHT UP.
Mike Lambert, UK

You could probably find a similar incident in every game over the weekend, but Cole is being singled out because of an over-zealous referee.

How many times do you see forwards (Owen and Van Nistelrooy being the 'best') trailing, dropping, dragging their legs to ensure that contact is made and then tumbling in the box, only to hear from experts that it is good awareness on their part.
Malcolm, UK

Paul Melvin should take his spectacles to the next football game he goes to. The first booking that Cisse got was harsh, the second was a joke caused by a cowardly cheat. Arsenal are a great footballing team, whilst Cole is exactly what the Birmingham fans were chanting at him!
Nick, England

The incident happened in front of me in the West Stand and I'm sure he didn't fake it.
Ken Salt, England

Making a meal out of challenges is part and parcel of the game today. How can O'Leary complain about Cole when he had drama queens such as Kewell and Smith in his side? Hypocrite.
Jan Blonski, England

Ashley Cole should not be punished by the FA, since players like Rivaldo have done worse things. Diving is part of the game and it's up to the referee to make a decision on this. Let the FA video advisory panel decide on whether to reverse or not the red card.
Zenzo Polite Ncube, Zimbabwe

Why would Ashley Cole dive in his own half? It made no difference if Birmingham had 10 or 15 men, Arsenal were walking it. As usual it's the anti-Arsenal brigade, who can't criticise our football anymore.
Gary Payne, UK

Birmingham are new to the top flight and have to get used to the rough and the 'tumble'. Sorry if I'm not sympathetic to Cisse as he obviously made a bad challenge and he was already on a yellow.

I didn't hear any cries of outrage when Michael Owen 'tumbled in the box' against the Argentineans in the World Cup! An attacking player's job is to either get onto goal and score, or to draw the defenders into making a mistake and be awarded the free kick.

OK, so he went down heavy, but would the Birmingham fans have been worried if it had been Cisse who fell??
Jason, UK

It's just part of the game. It's the responsibility of the referee to control the game. I say good luck to players who get away with this sort of behaviour. This is a big money business, and any advantage is worth taking and players would be negligent if they didn't take it.
Ian Yates, England

I agree totally with David O'Leary. Once again it was an incident which Mr Wenger did not get a clear view of! Yet he was animated about a potential offside a similar distance away at the other end of the pitch. Contact was Cole to Cisse, so where was the foul?
R Harral, UK

Try running flat out then being knocked unexpectedly. If you're still on your feet, you weren't running fast enough. Cole did nothing wrong, but the red card was very harsh.
Bob, England

I have to say I totally disagree with Paul Melvin (below). It wasn't Cisse that had his studs up, but Cole. He left his leg out with foot at 90 degrees after kicking the ball for Cisse to run into.

If he did get injured then it's his own fault, and if we're talking about clamping down on players "showing their studs" it's Cole who should be in the dock.
Paul Barker, UK

If those who think Cole dived looked at the TV replay, they would see there was contact. Maybe not Cisse's fault, but definite contact. I think the card was wrong, but why blame Cole?
Craig Bassant, UK

What everyone seems to forget is that you don't have to make contact to be cautioned by the referee. Intent has to be taken into account. Considering that Cisse was already on a yellow, his challenge was risky. Cole didn't stay down long - if anything he was trying to avoid being clattered by Cisse.
Chris, UK

Ashley Cole went to ground like a sack of potatoes, and got up as soon as the red card was shown. He did not even require treatment for the incident.
Martin Eaton, England

I felt it was disgrace at the way Cole went down. Arsenal were two up at the time, and to try and get an opposition's player sent off in that situation was petty and pointless.

Arsenal are a quality side, but they really need to discover the sort of reputation they want gain in being successful this season. Last season was a similar story, they a good team and don't have to cheat to be winners.
John Walsh, England

The game today is played at a different pace than when David O'Leary was playing. If you're haring along, leap in the air to avoid a leg and catch yourself on it, you're going to ground whether you like it or not - it hurts.

Cisse was unlucky, but if you're on a yellow card you have to be careful. Cole didn't dive, the referee decided Cisse was at fault and decided it was a bookable offence.
Chris Adams, UK

Ashley Cole caught Cisse on his follow through - that is not Cole's fault. Cisse should have been more careful after receiving a yellow card for a reckless challenge only a few minutes earlier.

Why should he 'dive'? The game was won and there was no advantage by receiving a free kick where the offence took place. David O' Leary should have a look have a look at his ex-players before rounding on Arsenal's.
Andrew Beal, England

I am a Birmingham City and England fan and rate Ashley Cole as the best left-back in the country since Stuart Pearce, so only he knows why he has to be so theatrical when he is tackled. Pearce never did this, and this is the difference between good and great.
James Ward, England

The sending off of Cisse was not a good decision by any stretch of the imagination, but it is wrong to vilify Ashley Cole. Too many commentators seem to think that a player is either fouled or is diving when they go to ground, without considering that the player may have fallen for legitimate reasons.

As far as I could see, Ashley Cole caught Cisse while clearing the ball - not a foul but a perfectly good reason for him falling to the ground.
James Thomson, UK

It happens way too often nowadays, and is making a referee's job even more difficult. A player who is proven to have falsely had an opponent booked or sent off should receive the booking/ban instead.
Dave Brown, UK

I must admit, at first glance I thought it was a rash challenge by Cisse. But from the TV replay it was evident that there was no contact. The referee should change his decision so Cisse's red card is changed to a yellow, but most importantly, give Cole a yellow card for diving.

If they use TV evidence to prove someone innocent, then they should be able to use the same evidence to prove someone guilty.
Michael Blake, UK

I don't think Cole did anything wrong. It was never a sending off, it wasn't even a foul, but his momentum would take him over. David Beckham jumps six feet in the air when he gets tackled, is anyone calling for him to resign his England captaincy?
Ryan Mohan, England

Ashley Cole was definitely out of line by making a meal of the challenge. But then again, that is the nature of the game these days.

No one accused Michael Owen of making a meal of being tackled in the Argentina penalty area in the World Cup. Stakes are so high in football today, that players will do almost anything to win.
Nick Black, England

I feel that David O'Leary is being harsh on Ashley Cole. Although Cisse did not go in to foul him he did catch Cole as he was airbourne, which is why he went to ground. I felt that a free-kick to Arsenal would have been sufficient punishment.
Neil Jarvis, London, UK

I am not aware of any ex-player that attacks his former club the way David O'Leary does Arsenal. I agree with Matt Strom (below). Frankly, O'Leary is nothing but an irrelevant moaner. Cisse himself has absolved Cole of any wrong-doing, so what is the fuss all about?
Patrick, UK

Ashley Cole deserves his equity card, from the TV shots it seems clear he kicked Cisse. If anything he should have had the red card for diving, it's not as if they weren't walking the game anyway. His behaviour was a disgrace.
Adam Kent, UK

Cole is not the only player who 'takes advantage' of such positions to get opposing players booked. I disagree with Kevin's comments (below) that Cisse should not have made any sort of challenge in view of his previous yellow card. In reality he did not make a challenge, he only ran across the face of Cole - it was Cole who actually kicked Cisse.

In view of the fact that sendings off and bookings can be reviewed and rescinded after games, surely the opposite should apply. Those found guilty of diving or other forms of unsportsmanlike conduct should be punished.

After all, there are enough cameras present at games to make this possible. Only if players are punished in this way will such behaviour stop.
Tony Wilson, UK

I have a great deal of sympathy with Cisse. Having seen the incident on TV he never made any kind of contact. The ref should look at the incident again and ensure any forthcoming suspension is quashed.
Roy Bailey, England

Let's face facts - the press are going to make an issue of this because they are desperate to knock Arsenal in any way they can. They can't knock the best footballing team in Britain at the moment, so this will have to do. I'm sure if it wasn't about this, it would be the colour or Wenger's shirt that's wrong, or the time it takes to get a burger at half time.
Colin, United Kingdom

I don't think either player did anything wrong. Cole was kicking the ball away, Cisse was trying to block it and there was an accidental collision. Sorry if this isn't dramatic enough for the headline writers - I suppose David O'Leary had to get himself back into the headlines somehow.
Graham, UK

Cole should be told that the Football season has started. The Commonwealth Games diving is over for another four years!
Tony, UK

I was at the game, sitting approximately 10-15 metres away. Cisse had already been booked for a challenge on Wiltord which could have earned him a red card, and 10 minutes later went studs up on Cole.

Even if there was minimal contact it is a booking at least - he gave the referee no choice! Everybody knew it was a sending off, and it was only the Blues' very vocal support and subsequent booing that caused the fuss. Didn't
Paul Melvin, UK

I watched the game as a neutral and saw on the replay a slight contact between Cisse's sole and Ashley Cole toe. Anyone who has played knows that your toes are very sensitive to pain and so his reaction was normal. Reactions need to be informed, and those of the tabloids and David O'Leary certainly aren't.
Jason Edwards, UK

Just because a player goes to ground easily doesn't make him a 'diver'. He clearly caught Cisse, and at the time I thought 'ouch'. Having said that, the red card was the worst decision I have ever seen - and being an Arsenal fan I've seen quite a few!
Gary, England

"Do you condemn Cole, or is such play just part and parcel of the modern game?" There is another option you know. Cole was fouled, Cisse deserved at least a second yellow and the correct decision was made by Mike Riley (who had a surprisingly good game, allowing the advantage for the second Arsenal goal).
Aidan, UK

It has been seen before you don't have to make contact to get a yellow or red card, but there was no need to go down like Cole did.
Bosse, Sweden

This is just part and parcel of the modern game - nobody complained when Owen dived in Argentina's penalty box. Just face facts, we don't care unless it happens to us!
Matthew Wearing, England

Cole sometimes seems to go to ground easily, but he's not the one employing the bully boy tactics or making the late tackles. It is on many teams' agenda to try to rough Arsenal up a bit - they can't live with them in a purely footballing arena, so they try to reduce their effectiveness by employing physical tactics.

I don't know about Cole as a diver, but O'Leary is getting a reputation as a moaner.
Andrew McBrinn, N Ireland

Since leaving Arsenal, David O'Leary has had something against us - he can't stand us winning without him. He always wants to have the last word on anything we do, and his tactics against us when manager of Leeds were a disgrace in themselves - 'if it moves, kick it'

On the subject of Cole, I don't believe he would get a player sent off. He plays the game with a smile and often has a bit of banter with opposing teams and the ref, all in good sport.
Matt Strom, London, UK

Ashley Cole should be punished by the FA for his dive, and should not be considered for England until he cleans up his act.
Neil Talbot, Britain

Regardless of whether Cole was hurt or contact was made, Cisse was on a yellow card, and therefore should not have made any type of challenge that may have resulted in another booking.
Kevin Depree, UK

Cole is not the only one. Diving is the scourge of the modern game, although ironically the 'get tough' policy on fouling has led to greater rewards for divers - you might actually get people sent off now, rather than just win a free kick. Diving should be punished by bans, enforceable by video evidence after the game.

Cole should get an automatic one-match ban for that obvious dive, and then a two-match ban if he does it again - it would soon stop.
Jon Cooper, UK