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?
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most of the comments for that blog are a bit strange…wenger will not buy vertogen…Arsenal defence should be left as is…its a creative midfielder that we need,a second striker and a decent winger(since walcott and gervinho are plain useless in that position)
Not convinced that he will be better than Ver or Kos. As for backup defenders we have Mert and Djourou. Thats rich.
Better to have a true and tried CM in M’Villa. He will have defensive qualities that will anchor the team that is bent on attack.
Another point for discussion. So many so called top class Belgians. Why are their national side under performing or are these individuals all hype??
I believe it’s highly probable that he will be an Arsenal player next year.He is one of the most versatile players available in the market (at a reasonable price),who can offer leadership,international experience,strength in defense and midfield,aerial presense in defense and attack.In other words has all the qualities of a Wenger signing and has already expressed a strong desire to play for Arsenal.He could easily play instead of/with Vermalen in defense or instead of/with Song in midfield.I think he will be far more valuable addition to the first team than M’Villa and he’s available at half the price.
Predicted line-up for next year:
Scezny
Sagna-Cos-Verm/Vert-Gibbs
Song/Vert
Arteta/Rocicky/Ramsey-Wilshere/Diaby
Walcott/Gervinho-V.Persie-Podolski/Ox/Rio.
I still believe that Arsenal do not need a new defender. They can get rid of Squillaci and Djourou and bring in Miquel and Bartley back from loan. They can also call back Pedro back from loan. He has apparently been doing pretty well in Spain. Arsenal are in need of a creative force in the middle, someone in the Cesc mold, who can pull the strings and control the game. An Ozil, Nuri Sahin, Gourcuff, coupled with a quality striker. I hope Podolski can deliver, or else Arsenal can play either Theo or Gervinho up front with RvP
i believe if vertonghen join us dis summer, it ‘ll take him sometime 2 be in d first eleven cos as a new arrival he ‘ll ‘ve 2 get himset acquinted wit his new team mates, study d epl n d opposition playrs before he catch up fully. but i’m pretty sure dat he ‘ll be a gud acquisition n he ‘ll be a success wit d support of his former team mate in vermalean. arsene wenger should just wrap up d deal n others as soon as possible.
The arrival of this man means alot to me because he will go straight into our first team playing on left back of our defence and it will give andre santos chance to play from midfield in some matches because of his skill.
unforunately we bought Mertesacker, and now we’re stuck with him, and will probably miss out on Vertonghen, who is all class.
anyway, we dont need to worry too much about this position. Im a fan of Djourou and know we can depend on him.
I hope most of you are mising the most important point….with Vertonghen this would allow Arsene to play Vermy of Kossy as DFM support to Song (who may move soon anyway). I would love to see Koscielny play in front of our new back 4 of Sagna/ Kossy, Vertonghen, Vermy, Gibbs
I also think Kossy could put a lot of pressure not on Gibbs but Sagna who’s defensive qualities have been questioned lately.
So my dream team for next season would be
Chesney
Sagna Vertonghen Vermaelen Gibbs
Koscienly Song Wilshire
AOC / Eriksen RVp Podolsky / Gervihno
Subs: Walcott, Ramsey, Rosicky, Per, Martinez,
I tell you what, I cannot see many teams breaching that defence .Most of them would not get past the mid three. And what a strike force?
All that can happen (at last) if Arsene gets rid of dead wood, even at low prices ie; Denilson, Vela, Bentner, Almunia, Djourou, Flappy, Diaby, Chamakh, Park, and at least five loanies who will never make the first team. The saving in wages = £40 mill per year and fees would be approx £37 mill. We could even see a lump come off the stadium debt too.
Koscielny is a better defender than Vermaelen, I think that much is obvious, Vermaelen is brilliant offensively and good at last ditch tackles, but is too error prone. However, Wenger can hardly drop our VC and possibly our most passionate player
In any case, if this deal goes through (which I doubt) I can see us playing something akin to a 5-3-2 or a 3-5-2.
Possibly something along the lines of
Szczesny
Koscielny Vermaelen Vertonghen/Mertesacker
Sagna Song/Arteta Santos/Gibbs
Wilshere/Ramsey Arteta/Song
RVP Podolski
Of course, this leads to a slight lack of width, but sagna is more than capable of bombing up and down the flanks, and Santos is quite a good player when it comes to going forwards, and is fairly decent in 1v1 situations.
I’m probably totally wrong, but wha to you lot think?