EXCLUSIVE: Partying with the enemy! After Chelsea cancel Christmas, Cole attends Arsenal's bash five days before Blues visit Gunners in top-of-the-table clash

Ashley Cole gatecrashed Arsenal's Christmas party on Wednesday after Chelsea scrapped their own festive bash scheduled for the same night.



The England international was at trendy nightspot Libertine on the same evening the Gunners squad arranged their seasonal night out at the popular London hangout. Sportsmail understands Cole was joined by Blues team-mates Ryan Bertrand and Andre Schurrle, despite Chelsea facing Arsenal in one of the biggest games of this season this Monday.



The trio's night out came 24 hours after the Blues' disappointing Capital One Cup exit at Sunderland - who are rooted to the bottom of the Barclays Premier League.



Out on the town: Ashley Cole partied with the Arsenal players after Chelsea's Christmas party was cancelled

Rivals: Cole's Chelsea travel to Arsenal on Monday in a crunch top-of-the-table Premier League clash

Chelsea had booked a table at plush Mayfair restaurant Novikov, a regular haunt for Premier League footballers, though it is understood there were plans to head to Libertine, a short walk from Novikov, later in the evening.



But it is claimed Chelsea players took the decision to postpone their annual party to spend a day with their families before the busy festive fixture schedule.



Some Chelsea players are even said to have travelled abroad for the day to see their families ahead of Friday's training session, which was put back until the afternoon. This is despite the fact that they did not arrive back from Tuesday night's 2-1 loss at Sunderland until the early hours of Wednesday morning.



Nevertheless, the Blues trio still decided to make their way to Libertine, despite the absence of their team-mates.



All together now! Arsenal's squad pose for a picture before heading out to the Christmas bash Dressed to impress: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (left) as an American footballer and Jack Wilshere as Batman Girls' night out: Kieran Gibbs is surrounded by ladies as he celebrates Christmas with his Arsenal team-mates Centre of attention: Arsenal defender Gibbs left after the night out with a group of girls Out and about: Mathieu Flamini (left) as Super Mario and German team-mate Per Mertesacker as a pirate Danger man: Aaron Ramsey dressed as Rambo (right) next to Laurent Koscielny (left) leaving the night out Naughty: Olivier Giroud gave the finger as he tried to avoid being snapped during the night out Chelsea face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night, a clash that could see Jose Mourinho's side move above the Gunners at the top of the Barclays Premier League table. If he plays, Cole will no doubt get a negative reception from the Arsenal fans, who dislike him for the way he left the club.

Cole and his colleagues are unlikely to face club sanctions given they are permitted to be out three nights before a fixture, while the players hope to arrange another festive party early in the new year.

Having been dropped by Mourinho earlier this season, Cole, who is said to have had minimal involvement with the Gunners squad on Wednesday night, has struggled to regain his place in the Chelsea first team. Mourinho has preferred to start with Cesar Azpilicueta at left back, despite the fact that the Spaniard is a right back.

Cole played in Tuesday's defeat but it remains to be seen if he will keep his place for the crunch clash against Arsene Wenger's side. Likewise, Bertrand has struggled to make an impact under Mourinho and is a target for Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers in the January transfer window. But Schurrle's displays since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen have been a bright spot for Mourinho this season.



Superman: Mesut Ozil (Superman) poses with Lukas Podolski (The Hulk, left) and Bacary Sagna Where's Wally? Nicklas Bendtner (left) and Carl Jenkinson joined in with the festivities Masked raiders: Lukasz Fabianski (left) as Robin and Mikel Arteta as Zorro