Joe Cole taunts Arsenal: You'll win nothing playing like the Harlem Globetrotters

Joe Cole has warned Arsenal they will have to ditch their 'Harlem Globetrotter' football and win ugly if they want to land the league title.

The Chelsea star fully expects the Blues' London rivals to be much closer to his side, Manchester United and a reinforced Liverpool in the final shake-up this season.

But Cole insists that to do so the Gunners need to follow the examples of Chelsea and United, who know how to win when not at their best.

Cole said: "Manchester United and Chelsea have learnt how to win games in different ways, but Liverpool and Arsenal are different.

"They are both great sides on their day, but maybe they don't win enough games when they don't play well.

"Both are improving though, and they'll push us all the way this season."

After a traumatic term in which Jose Mourinho was axed in favour of Avram Grant, the Blues still managed to push United until the final game.

Cole was surprised inexperienced Arsenal were title contenders for two thirds of the season, and added: "It did surprise me. The way they started was incredible.

"But people were talking about them like they were the Harlem Globetrotters.

But if you're an experienced football man you're thinking: 'Hold on, there's a long way to go'. They got tired and their inexperience showed towards the end of the season.

"This season, with a bigger squad and more experience, they'll be stronger.

"Obviously Cesc Fabregas is their top player, but I was really impressed with the way Theo Walcott finished the season.

"If people aren't demanding him to be in the England team, they're writing him off.

"But I think he'll develop into a world-class player if people just give him some space to express himself." Although injured Cristiano Ronaldo did not play in Sunday's Community Shield win on penalties for Manchester United, Cole believes Sir Alex Ferguson's men remain awesome without him.

He said: "The emergence of Ronaldo as the best player in the world took them to the next level but they can score from anywhere.

"Rooney, Giggs, Tevez, Nani, Anderson, Scholes, Carrick...the list goes on.

"I was talking to Michael Carrick about their change of system last season and they work a lot on movement and rotation.

"Different players will pop up in different positions, which makes it so hard to play against."

But Cole believes Chelsea are ready to erase the pain of losing the Carling Cup Final, finishing second in the Premier League and as the Champions League runners-up to United. He said: "We have to use that pain to inspire us."

For transfer stories and rumours throughout the day, check out our Football Spy blog

Manage your own football team - Click here to sign up to our Fantasy Football game...