Born: 20/12/80, Stepney,
Height: 5'8ins
Weight: 10st 8lbs
31 August 2000: Ashley played for 75 minutes of England Under-21's 6-1 victory over Georgia at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium. He netted England's second goal on 37 minutes from a Joe Cole pass.
A product of the Arsenal youth scheme, this exciting left back or wing back had his first taste of senior football when he came on as a substitute in the Worthington Cup tie at Middlesbrough last November. In February he was loaned to Crystal Palace to gain first-team experience and impressed with his displays at left wing back, showing excellent timing in the tackle. He then returned to Highbury to make his full Arsenal debut in the Premiership in the final game of the season at Newcastle. A strong tackler who reads the game perceptively and creates long passing movements, Ashley is quick on and off the ball, uses the overlap well and is capable of delivering an accurate cross. He is considered a player of the future at Highbury, particularly in the left-back position.
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