For years now, Arsenal fans have been singing the praises of their big Belgium bruiser Thomas Vermaelen. The conventional wisdom is that he’s the best centre-back at the club and one of the best in the League – it’s just unfortunate that he’s part of a team that doesn’t know how to defend. Over the last couple of weeks, this conventional wisdom has been severely tested. Is Thomas Vermaelen the man we thought he was?
When he first came to the club he was calm, collected, vocal and commanding. He instantly took control of an Arsenal defence that was struggling and established himself as one of the most important players in the squad. Why is it then that nowadays I’d be more confident with a Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny partnership at the heart of the Gunner’s defense?
One thing that Vermaelen was always praised for was being a leader. But when Arsenal most needed a performance this season he was found severely lacking.
He was one of the worst players on the pitch against AC Milan and that’s saying something. He got pulled out of position regularly, left their forwards with too much space and time and generally got turned inside out. His slip in the lead up to Robinho’s goal summed up his whole performance.
What’s more, he wasn’t any better against Sunderland when Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup. That’s two games now in his favoured centre-back position playing alongside the more than capable Laurent Koscielny where he’s looked plain bad. He looks like a man completely shorn of confidence and that’s something I never thought I’d be saying about Vermaelen.
The problem probably started with his stretch as a fill-in left-back during Arsenal’s full-back crisis. Arsene Wenger risked Andre Santos in a meaningless European game when Kieran Gibbs was already injured and this resulted in Arsenal having no left-backs to choose from. As a result, Vermaelen was tasked with playing in an unfamiliar role – something he did pretty badly.
This Arsenal team is desperately lacking in spirit and confidence and the fact that this is now prevalent amongst their best players is worrying.
Hopefully Vermaelen’s poor form is temporary. He has shown his class over the years and once he readjusts to playing as a centre-back and playing with Laurent Koscielny he may look like his old self once again. For Arsenal’s sake, the sooner this happens, the better.
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Good topic! However, your arguments aren’t really that good, given the fact that Vermaelen mostly played left back against Sunderland and played alongside Koscielny for about 40 minutes in Milan and not at all at Sunderland.
But I admit TV hasn’t been the same Verminator we used to seeing in his first season. However, I believe it’s more down to the fact that he has been playing left-back for far too long, because of the injuries of Santos and Gibbs. He should be given minutes at centre-back and I believe we will see the old Vermaelen back.
“THE VERMINATOR”is the dog’s b*****ks=leave him alone=it’s a blipp-nothing more!
Are you mad ? He had a bad game in Milan but at Sunderland he was forced to play full back again very early on. Hardly 2 games then is it ?
Classy post, very classy. Not at all cheap jumping on the bandwagon and kicking a club when it’s down, no not at all, very classy indeed. Well done Mr. Cloke.
Dick head don’t ever doubt the verminator
Scumbag do you really watch football you jerk? TV is the best defender in the League after Kosher, He has been out of position quite some time now!!!! so shut the fuck up u illiterate moron!!!!
Nope, I sit here cigar in mouth, pluck a name out of the air and write a sting piece against them.
Of course I watch – you know there’s a reason this article is out there and getting good debate – he was awful against AC Milan and Sunderland and he looks completely shorn of confidence.
Also: “so shut the fuck up u illiterate moron!!!!” – don’t embarrass yourself.
You have just writting one louzy article you fool give him time and space and he get back to his normal self you have no experience of a footballer and that’s why you can’t judge them
Thomas still the man he was the only the arsenal reliable central back we have i never doubt his quality for 1s. When the team lost a match they lost together the blame is not for one player or coach. During milan match laurent who surpose assit him was injure as well as sunderland match the midfield was not there and midfield failure increase work on the defence and once that happen if care is not taken we all know the result as exactly what happen in milan and sunderland. So thomas was not at fault he did what he can but just can’t rescue the failure.
Interesting topic.
I’ve felt the same way about Verm. His performances as CB have not been too convincing. Anticipation and positioning-wise, Koz is way better.
One of the magical traits that made us love Verm is his dangerous surges forward. He can add an extra body for headers, and has a thunderbolt of a shot.
Unfortunately, this cannot happen from the left back position. He needs more games as CB, and more confidence to go forward.
Anticipation-wise he needs to improve. His errors has cost us a few goals.
Koz looks like our best defender so far.
What performances at CB? If you’re talking about the Milan game as an overall consensus of his talent as a CB you are diluded. Bloody weirdo
Telling u d truth,players mostly slip in cases like this due 2 lack of competition.Assuming we had a cahill/mert/koscienly,the best of vermalaen u will only be beginning 2 see.
Good article,Verm has not been in good form of late either as LB or CB.I’m beginning to feel he is overated.i have played at the highest level in Africa,twice at the Nations Cup and i know when one is out of sorts.currently Koser is way ahead.Verm is only playing bcoz of lack of depth.i believe he will improve soon bcoz form is temporary and class is permanent.
Just because he has a couple of bad games means he is a poor defender.The whole team was at fault for the past two high profile defeats. Form is temporary but class is permanent.I believe he will show his true class in the coming big games.
Sad to say Wenger has not put his full focus on defence.On another note,the manager is responsible for the team’s performance.Amid calls
for a defensive coach,Wenger would have none of it.This is condescending and Arsenal will continue to ship goals by the bucketful.This will finally end in him being sacked.
You just can’t make an article questioning a player’s ability after 2 performances (one out of position). He has been fairly solid this season and i’m confident this is just a blip possibly due to not playing in the centre for a while. By using two games as evidence surely you could argue anything… ‘Mesut Ozil’s not very good because he hasn’t scored for Real in their last 5 games’! Or ‘Barcelona aren’t very good because in their last 8 games they’ve drawn 3 times and lost once’. You really have to look at the bigger picture!
RVP hasnt scored in the last 2 games – He is shit!!
Compare this lot with O,leary,Keown,Adams,Bould,Campbell,Toure and Gallas and one realises they are all in a second division and the same goes when you think of Dixon,Lauren,Winterburn,Cole,Edu,Viera,Petit,Gilberto,Williams, Richardson,Rosewall,Wiltord,Anelka,Marwood,Merson,Wright,Pires,Henry,Ljungberg,Bergkamp,Overmars,Parlour,Flamini, and for good measure compare Lukic,Seamam,Lehmann and Mannining with Almunia,Fabrianski and a rookie 17yr old Cesney,
Is it any wonder Arsenal are no comparison with the teams Graham/Dein put together!
And 8 years of Wenger dream world and a waste of time academy have rendered only proof his own team hav,nt got what it takes. Dont count Manu Cup final win on pen shoot out, Arsenal were completely outplayed and the tactics were based on hoping to get to shoot out and believe it or not that but Senderous saved Arsenal.
What other Manager could survive Eight seasons of failure?
Full agree with sean little. No manager at any high profile team could have survived eight seasons of under achievment.Even the red faced would have been axed two to three seasons of no trophy.
Wenger is indeed leaving a charmed life. At any other club he would been axed. If he continues as manager next season another under achieving seaon should see a change of manangement. Enough of his kids and one style play.
Sorry mate but is is a farcical post. The guy has been outstanding for Arsenal. He plays 2 bad games and you’re asking whether he has been “found out?”
Come on! Have a little humility. I mean are actually seriously asking that? Although I can agree with people that say he might not be the same as when he arrived, that for me is down to a club that doesnt coach defence. I mean how is a player supposed to grow and improve if they arent practicing defense regularly. The same could be said of Sagna I think. Again that is not to say he isnt a fantastic defender.
Vermaelen is an excellent defender. He reads the game very well. One of his key strengths being his ability to intercept and pass just before an opposition player gets to it. That coupled with his aerial prowess and his recovery pace make him one of the best defenders in the premiership.
To question a player that has been Mr Consistency off the back of 2 poor performances, performances in which he is not only still regaining full fitness, but also having to find his bearings in a once again changed and unfamiliar back line and also back in the center of defense.
Basically Vermaelen is class. End of.
though i do agree hes not been at his best this season i think that is more down to playing LB all year then being switched inside for one game.
The main problem for the defense is midfield cover they are very exposed through the middle of the park. This is due to the Overrated, inept conundrum of the wandering Alex Song. When your Def Mid is happy to wander around the final third waiting for a pass instead of sitting in the defensive third in front of defense tracking midfield movements and picking off the runs and through balls.
This leaves our defense overstretched and exposed not only covering their strikers and wingers (as our wingers never track back as much as they should). They have to mark the Cent mids too all because Song doesn’t provide the cover he should be
He’s been played out of position, he then has to re-adjust to CB. 2 bad performances and you write him off. What a joke.
Indeed Vermaelen hasnt been able to find the form of his first season at the Arsenal. However that is because he is being played out of position. Im sure he will defo get back to his best very soon when starts playing CB
He is the VERMINATOR!