Don’t shout it too loud, but after a disastrous early season things are finally coming together at Arsenal, and despite all the hype and the jibes about us being a one man team, it is every bit as much a solid defensive record as of late, as it is down to the goals of RVP.
Arsenal have not won the league since 2004 and this has certainly not been down to the quality of our attacking play. Possibly only Barcelona have consistently, in that seven year period, played better and more fluid offensive football than the Gunners.
However, not since the back five of Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell and Lauren have we ever truly looked capable of continually keeping clean sheets and defending leads. In reality, poor decisions, errors and weak defending have actually cost us a Premier League title in 2008, as well as a Champions League final and two Carling Cups.
The real truth is that I think this trend could finally be coming to an end this season. There are many reasons for this and I have written articles this season on the confidence and ability of our Polish shot-stopper, my belief that Bacary Sagna is as good as it gets, and in Laurent Koscielny we have a true defender who intercepts as often as he tackles and blocks like Martin Keown. However, it is a recent interview with the afore mentioned legend, Keown for ESPN that has sparked this piece, and of course the subject is about Thomas Vermaelen.
We have considerable talent at our disposal and whilst I actually think that Andre Santos is well on the way to cult status, but there is no doubt in my mind that the Belgian is there already and is the glue that will hold this defence together this season and for years to come. His fitness is every bit as important to our continued resurgence and success as that of our prolific skipper.
Not one of us would disagree that Keown knows a thing or two about top class defending, so his interview with ESPN soccernet is very telling:
‘There are key players back in the team – Thomas Vermaelen especially. Vermaelen is absolutely key to what they do. He satisfies the needs of the manager because of his technical side, his passing his crisp and it’s almost perfection the way he passes the ball.
‘But he satisfies me and other supporters too, because of his physical side – that’s what I want to see. I feel he dominates people, he attacks the ball, he organises and I just feel much more comfortable when he’s playing. For me, he’s equally as important as Van Persie now that he’s back in the team and playing well.’
varminator is very good! He has the passion and drive! Energy and technical ability! Wenger, this was a good ‘buy’ for sure….. Arsene knows
Arsenal has a real player in Vermalin. He is a quality defender a team player and a leader.