VERMAELEN: ARSENAL MAJOR HONOURS REVEALED

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Thomas Vermaelen won one major trophy during his time at Arsenal. The Belgian national team defender spent five years at Arsenal before Spanish giants Barcelona paid around £15m to sign him in the summer of 2014.

Arsenal snapped up Thomas Vermaelen from Dutch Eredivisie side Ajax Amsterdam on June 19, 2019 for a reported initial fee of €10m rising to €12m with add-ons. His Gunners debut came in the Premier League opener at the start of the 2009/10 season and he was able to celebrate the occasion with a goal. Verminator as he’s fondly called had earlier been handed the number five jersey at Arsenal after KoloToure left the club for Manchester City. Thomas Vermaelen scored in the first half as Arsenal thrashed Everton 6-1 away from home. The goal against the Toffees was the first of many in an Arsenal shirt.

In his first season at Arsenal, Thomas Vermaelen found the back of the net eight times as a central defender in 45 games in all competitions. In his five years at Arsenal, he scored 12 times in the Premier League over the course of 110 games. His form for Arsenal in his first season at the club earned him a place in the PFA Team of the Season.

Vermaelen was given the captain’s armband by Arsene Wenger after Robin Van Persie left for Manchester United in 2012. He was the vice captain to the Dutchman before Wenger gave him the responsibility. His last act as an Arsenal skipper was lifting the FA Cup title at the end of the 2013/14 season as the club was able to end a nine-year trophy drought thanks to the 3-2 extra time win over Hull City during the 2014 FA Cup final. Welshman Aaron Ramsey scored the winner in extra time as the Gunners came from two goals down to beat the Tigers.