Traitor because of what? It's a free country and he can go whenever he want. If Arsenal want him that bad should have raise him or made him a more intregal part of the team. Arsenal were cheap at that time and viewed him in different light that Mourinho saw him. Arsenal is the only big team in the world who constantly lose players for rivals or other big teams. Start paying the players and give them more respect, instead of if they reach 28/30 years they are ship away, like Pires, Ljugberg, etc. and even Viera and Henry, they didn't leave for money, but because they were getting old and Arsenal felt that they could be replaced, so they let them leave. Man U always keep their legends and that leadership was always felt. Ashley Cole probably felt that he only be there for some years (4/5) and then would be let go like others before him.
and was basically being tapped up (illegally) . Cole was important figure to Arsenal/fans and possibly more being a local. You sound silly saying Arsenal ship players at 28/30. The facts are a 1-2 years added to their contract at the age of 30. You can`t compare different clubs, if they have different financial models. 
