Tag: Vermaelen

FAVOURITES FOR THIRD SPOT

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has said that his club are the favourites now to finish in the top three this season. Vermaelen was speaking on the occasion when Arsenal had just overtaken Tottenham in the Premier league table following the midweek round of fixtures. Tottenham could only draw against Stoke city, while Arsenal managed a 1-0 win over Everton away from home. Further, Tottenham will be having a tough round of fixtures in the remaining matches like Arsenal, who have an easier run-in. These are the reasons for Vermaelen to believe that Arsenal are now the favourite for the top three.

Vermaelen has said that one of the major changes in the race for the top three positions came when Arsenal faced Tottenham in the North London Derby a few weeks ago. Tottenham could have gone 13 points clear of Arsenal if they had won the match, but they lost the match 5-2 after a quite impressive second half comeback from Arsenal. Since then, Tottenham have been on the decline, while it has been the opposite with Arsenal. Arsenal have since managed to close a 10 point advantage and secure a one-point advantage over Tottenham. Vermaelen was a key figure in Arsenal doing so because his injury time header gave the club all three points against Newcastle recently.

“We are always confident [of staying third], especially if we keep winning games as we are. Yes [Arsenal are favourites to finish third], we just have to keep the focus on our own performance. At the moment we have had some good results against some difficult teams. We have shown good mentality,” Vermaelen said after the 2-1 win over Newcastle. Finishing above Tottenham extremely important for Arsenal given that they have not allowed their neighbours to finish above them since 1995.

COMMITMENT MAKES VERMAELEN CULT HERO

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that one of the reasons for Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen to be a cult hero at Arsenal is his commitment to the club. Arsenal were very tough situation in the summer after the departure of some of Nasri and Cesc Fabregas.

Just when it seemed that they were about to lose all their top stars to other clubs, Thomas Vermaelen penned a new four year contract with the club. The Belgian defender was coming on the back of a injury hit season, but was still able to commit to the club who had shown great interest to bring him from Belgium.

Even though the season has not exactly gone in the way they would have wanted, Arsenal fans can look forward to seeing their club qualify for the next season’s Champions League. Qualifying for this elite European competition is very important for a club like Arsenal because it would not only help them retain their current stars, but also provide them with very important cash to attract even more. Just at the turn of this year, Arsenal looked to be out of the race to finish in the top four, but we have just moved into the third position following a spectacular run of form.

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NOT ENJOYING BEING LEFT BACK

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has admitted that he is not enjoying playing in the left back position for Arsenal. The Belgian defender has had to fill in for Kieran Gibbs at the left back position for Arsenal this season due to the incredible number of injuries the club has suffered in this department.

Kieran Gibbs is expected to return back from injury soon, which will finally push Thomas Vermaelen back into his favourite position – central defence. Arsenal have had a stranger injury situation in which a number of fullbacks have either been injured or been sold in the transfer window.

As a result, central defender Djourou has been filling in that right back for the injured Bacary Sagna, while Thomas Vermaelen has had to move to the left back position. It is a position Thomas Vermaelen has revealed that he is not comfortable with, but is prepared to carry on if the situation and injury situation of Arsenal demands. The Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen is regarded as one of the best players at the club. However, he has not particularly excelled in the left back position, where he has played numerous times this season.

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PUT THE NIGHTMARE BEHIND US

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has said that Arsenal do need to put behind their nightmare 4-0 humiliation at the San Siro in order to perform well in the remaining competitions. Arsenal do not have a chance of winning the Premier league this season, as they are too many points behind leaders Manchester City at the stage of the season. They have already been eliminated from the Carling cup this season. The FA Cup remains the only hope for Arsenal to win a trophy. Ironically, the FA cup of the last trophy Arsenal lifted back in 2005.

Arsenal will be facing Premier league club Sunderland in the fifth round of the FA Cup. They will be competing for a place in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Arsene Wenger will be aware of the fact that if Arsenal make it into the quarterfinals, then it would be only a matter of two games before Arsenal reach the finals. Thomas Vermaelen has been one of the influential players for Arsenal over the last few seasons. However, he is yet to win a major trophy with Arsenal. In order to do so, Thomas Vermaelen has said that the players should be forgetting the 4-0 defeat and concentrate on the forthcoming matches.

“When you are a professional you put the bad things that happen behind you. We have to give something back to all those Arsenal fans who came all the way out here, only for us to disappoint them. We will have to learn our lessons from what happened in Milan, but it is important at times like this to remain mentally strong,” Vermaelen said. It is also the priority for Arsenal to qualify for the Champions League next season, without the lack of which will result in serious financial implications.