Thomas Vermaelen: Arsenal’s third best centre-back?

A deliberately provocative question, but one that I think is worth considering. In direct contrast to the last couple of years, Arsenal find themselves in the privileged position of having at least three world class centre-backs.

Thomas Vermaelen, who picked up an unjust yellow card and a three-week long injury against QPR, is up there with the very best defenders in the Premier League. The Belgian is an absolute rock in the centre of defence and a genuine leader who possesses a fighting spirit many others lack. He’s also great on the ball, able to spray out passes and grab goals with both his head and feet. But are Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker better players?

It’s likely that Per was signed as a back-up to Kos and the Verm, but thanks to Arsenal’s injury problems has become one of their most important players. I can’t help but feel that a couple of high-profile mistakes has seen Per be underrated by pundits and opposition fans alike. His reading of the game is unbelievably good, which helps to compensate for his lack of pace.

As his size would suggest, he’s also pretty handy in the air, though he’s yet to add goals to his game. Once he’s gone a couple of months without a mistake, I’m sure he’ll start getting the respect that he’s due.

Then there’s Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal’s most improved player and arguably the Premier League’s fastest developing defender. In fact his progress is so impressive that I’d argue he’s become the Gunner’s number one centre-back leaving Vermaelen and Mertesacker to slug it out for second place.

Of course these opinions may not be popular with all Arsenal fans, some of whom will be only too keen to tell me that Vermaelen is easily the club’s best centre-back. But isn’t the fact that such a discussion is even possible a hugely positive thing for Arsenal football club?

When all three players are fit and there’s no full-back crisis at the club, Wenger will be in the incredibly privileged position of being able to choose from three of the Premier League’s best defenders. Vermaelen and Koscielny’s versatility (both have been deployed at full-backs) only adds to the advantage.

Arsenal have come a long way from their reputation as a defensive laughing stock and this added steel may well aid them in the quest for silverware over the next couple of years.

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