Arsenal’s returning centre-back Thomas Vermaelen admitted on Arsenal.com that he’s been impressed with all the clubs new players this season.
The Belgian defender made his long awaited comeback on Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat to Aston Villa, after recovering from an Achilles injury which kept him out of action for nearly nine months.
New recruit, Laurent Koscielny, has managed to make a total of 43 appearances in his debut season for the Gunners, and the Belgian centre-back has commended the Frenchman’s performances whilst he was sidelined through injury:
‘Laurent has done really well in his first Premier League season. The French league is a good one, and he knew how to face strong teams like Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux, but it’s a step up to come to the Premier League and he’s handled it well.’
‘There is always talk about Arsenal’s back four, but defending is about teamwork as well as individuals and goals are often down to a number of things rather than defenders’ mistakes.’
Vermaelen also praised youngsters Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny for their displays for the club this season, which has left the 25-year-old believing both players have a great future ahead of them at Arsenal:
‘Jack has done really well too – he has a great future in front of him, as does Wojciech. Both of them have a really good mentality and don’t feel pressure. You can see that on the pitch – they play like they might do in the garden and that’s a great quality for a footballer, not to have stress when playing. I saw at first hand when I played for the reserves that we have a lot of great young talents here, and it’s brilliant that these two guys have pushed on so well.’
Do you agree with Thomas Vermaelen’s assessment on the clubs ‘new’ players? Have they proven to be of Arsenal standard?
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I think he’s right. There is a mountain of talent in the Arsenal locker room, but it needs to live up to its potential, and play like a team rather than a group of individuals. Also, Wenger needs to make better coaching decisions.
i think wermaleen has every right to praise the new players, and was right on every one of them, though i believe fabinaski abetter keeper then scwyhny( still the worse name to spell sorry).
and DON you right to we have huge amount off talent at arsenal, and our trouble is team work, thiers not a togetherness at arsenallike we had in 89 where players would fight for each other,(and often did remenber norwich and man utd fights)
but team work and team togetherness don’t just happen, thiers something missing at the moment at arsenal, i don’t know what it is, it reminds me off arsenal in the late 70’s we had a great little squad got to 3 fa cup finals and a cup winners cup final, but won only one trophy, that team was very good but we had something missing, it not always down to the players or coaching , it the moulding? sometimes players mould as a squad quickly, like in 98 up to 06 or again the
89/91 team, sometimes the moulding more slower like now , and the reason for this is i believe we too many individuals who play for them selfs or think they better then they really are.
i still think we are very very close at arsenal to success, and when it comes it will taste even more sweeter then before.
I think he is right to praise Wilshere, Szczesny and Koscielny. They have all had good seasons, but the problem is even though they did our season still went down the pan. Personally I think it is down to the lack of experience, even though Koscielny played well we still lack an experienced centre back to partner Varmaelen.
This season defensive problems cost us big time and if you don’t agree then all you have to do is look back on the Liverpool, Tottenham, Newcastle, Boltan and most recently the Aston Villa game. There are many more examples but these are just some of them.
i think you find it were’t the lack off central defencive players but the FACT WE HAD TO PLAY GOALKEEPERS THIS SEASON, how would man utd or chelsea do if they had to use 4different keepers ,scwyny only 19 and not experienced enough yet and his major fault is his decision making take the first goal sunday he stayed on his line instead off comming out and putting pressure on bent
I believe that the he has the right to say that these players have stepped up well to the demands of the premier league. I’d rather have these players than spending 50mil like chelsea and have a ineffective player like torres
As long as he didn’t praise the clown Squillaci, i agree with him! I think our only bad signing this year was him. But then, we definitely need more depth and leadership in the team now!