Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen has been constantly linked with a move to Arsenal over the last several transfer windows, and is rumoured to be on his way to the Emirates this summer.
If these rumours are to be believed and the transfer takes place this summer, would he be immediately slotted into the first-team? As experienced and skilled as he is, I for one doubt it and here’s why.
Firstly, he would be a new player coming into a squad with players who have gelled well at the back.
Bacary Sagna will obviously not have too much to worry about, while Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen are arguably one of the best centre-back pairings currently in the Premier League.
With Per Mertesacker also being an experienced defender as well, Vertonghen may have a very tough time trying to obtain a place in the starting 11.
The Belgian’s best bet would be trying to acquire the left-back role. However, he will still have a pretty tricky challenge on his hands, as Kieran Gibbs won’t be a push over, while Andre Santos I think may be used as a midfielder next season (the guy simply doesn’t have a single defensive bone in his body). However, I could be wrong and if that is the case then Jan will have to deal with the bulky Brazilian as well.
Like all new arrivals, Vertonghen will take time to settle. And if we are indeed interested in him then I say we get him ASAP to avoid having players gelling and learning about each others strengths and weaknesses during the bigger games next term.
His potential arrival will no doubt spark a battle for places, which mill mean less complacency from players who will know that if they slip up then there’s someone waiting on the side willing and capable of taking their position.
What do you guys reckon – would Vertonghen be considered a starter if he was to join us this summer, or would he struggle to get into the side?
Leave us your thoughts on the matter below
Like what you read? Then follow me on Twitter – http://twitter.com/Eon_93
Visit and Join our Facebook page, click HERE to do so.
Gunnersphere is currently looking for new writers to join the squad. Contact via twitter or at Gunnersphere@snack-media.com for further details.
your explanation for why he won’t go straight into the 1st team is the reason Arsenal wont sign him at all.
he can replace song, quicker, better passer, more intelligent player
bETTER PASSER THEN SONG??? SONG PASSES BETTER THEN ANY1 IN OUR MIDFIELD… GO ALEX!!
If we bought Vertonghen he would walk straight into our starting line up.
Our defence is nowhere near as good as most Arsenal fans like to think it is.
Vermaelan and Sagna are our two only ‘top class’ defenders.
We conceded 44 league goals last season and have conceded 43 this time round. (with three games to go)
Back when we were winning trophies we were conceding around 30 a season.
Koscielny is a better defender than Vermaelen (TV is a more rounded footballer but makes more defensive mistakes), but both are excellent for our style of play. If we played more defensive tactics, they’s be pretty good defenders, but there aren’t many out there who could do a better job in the system we play.
From what I’ve seen Vertonghen is just a giant vermaelen, which is why he starts ahead of him at CB for the Belgian national side.
Wrt the goals conceded, we actually have a pretty good record, if you don’t count the first 8 games where we didn’t have a proper team due to late signings, and suffered a lot of injuries/suspensions. Overall, I think we have a similar, or even better, record than Man City, since those first 8 games.
welll how many goals have we conceded
when we have had our first choice diffenders on the pitch this year ?
He’s better than Mertesacker I think so defense will be Sagna Vermaelen Vertonghen Gibbs
Per was nowhere near up to speed or strength this term
Although this might be hard to believe for Arsenal fans, Vertonghen really is better than Vermaelen, that was already the case when both of them played together for Ajax. Also, I think Vertonghen would be a beter DM than Song. Yeah, Song makes some assists, but apart from that he doesn’t really contribute much, he doesn’t shield his defence from harm like he’s supposed to do.
Song doesn’t really play defensive midfield, he bridges the gap between defence and attack. Arteta does the screening job, and does it well, but if we could find someone to combine his intelligence and technical abilities with a greater physical presence (Coquelin might be able to do that), so much the better.
Yeah you’re right, we basically have two guys (Song-Arteta) doing the job of one player. If we have a proper DM, than we can play with two attacking ones. That would greatly improve our combination play in my opinion. I think Vertonghen or M’Vila could be those players.
I agree with the stats by Bear. The gunners defence is porous and for a team aiming to win the epl aint good enough. The German defender to me is too ponderous.
Santos to me is too attack minded. Blame Wenger. Our manager should get more defence oriented guys.I know attack is also good but you have to make sure the defence is solid otherwise it will be like the last few years.
This man is so quick,he has pace,holds the ball and with the combination of song,arteta ie.4_3_3. I think we would not have questions with our midfield.he has a position at arsenal.
At last some fellow Gooners agree with me that Song is not this worldbeater he and many deluded Gooners think he is. Verttonghen would if signed would I’m sure go straight in our first team. He is certainly as good or if not better than TV and Koscielny, miles better than Mertseker and he’s a better left back than Gibbs and Santos. Finally as said on here he would be a much better defensive midfielder than Song. Hope we get him.
I agree with you, a lot of people were deluded with Song because of all those beautiful assists he provided. But apart from those assists there isn’t anything world-class about him.
Harsh on song boys but I’ve not seen the guy play but It’s true that per is too slow .