By Walter Broeckx
Yesterday I wrote an article about the 3 young left backs we have in our squad and the options they bring to fill the gap that has been made after the departure of Clichy.
But today I want to give you another possible solution also in our team available. Because with Thomas Vermaelen we have the current left back of Belgium in our squad. As I am from Belgium I have seen the Belgium national team play on a few occasions. Albeit with only one eye for the football part of the game as I really don’t like the way they have been playing in the last decades. I usually looked with fear in my heart that Vermaelen might get injured. And in fact he did last season. And this was the reason we lost him the whole season.
But with Vermaelen we have a possible and experienced left back in our team. It is not his favourite position. He likes to play central but as a good captain he does what he is told to do. He is captain of the Belgium national team and undertakes this job like everything he does: with a very serious attitude.
I must admit that I rate him higher as a centre back. But he never lets you down when he plays. Put him in goal and he will not disappoint you. He also played at left back for Ajax on more than one occasion.
People questioned Vermaelen when he first came to Arsenal because he was not tall enough for a centre back. At left back this will not be that important any more. And besides we know he can jump. He will be better defensively in the air compared to Clichy and this might help us in the future as we have seen on a few occasions that the opposition targeted Clichy with high balls in the air. When Vermaelen plays there they will not find it that easy to beat him in the air.
But the gap that Vermaelen then leaves in the middle should be filled. And to fill this gap we could look at one of his former partners at Ajax and in the Belgium national team. And if we think Vermaelen could be a versatile player the same could be said of Vertonghen. And he is even more flexible in his positions. He is also just as Vermaelen left footed and this would be very important for the balance of the team and our defence.
He usually plays at centre back for Ajax and in the Belgium national team. But he also has played at left back in his career at Ajax and Belgium when Vermaelen was out injured. But I must say that when I last checked I think Vermaelen is the better left back from the two. And on top of this he also has played as defensive midfielder at Ajax and also in the Belgium national team.
In fact if my memory is still OK he played in midfield when the Belgium Olympic team played at the 2008 Olympics in China. And he was one of their best players and was one of the players responsible for Belgium finishing in an unexpectedly high 4th place in this tournament.
Vertonghen is bigger than Vermaelen with a height of 1.89m. So no reason to say anything about this for the ones who need to moan about something. He is also a leader and someone who will do anything to please the fans. Including insulting the opposition and their fans after winning things. Sorry Jan but couldn’t leave this out.
Vermaelen and Vertonghen have played together at Ajax for a few years and with Vermaelen being two years older it was Vermaelen who has helped Vertonghen in his first years at Ajax. Since then they are very close personal friends. I know Vertonghen would love to come to Arsenal but it is not just up to the players alone to make such a decision. Ajax will not let him go to Arsenal if they can get more money from another team.
So for once I would say to Arsène if you do want to spend some money I sure wouldn’t be opposed to spending it on Vertonghen.
But it could well be that Wenger has spotted something he doesn’t like from Vertonghen. Or that he knows a reason why Vertonghen isn’t suited for our game. But he is technical very good for a tall centre back, strong in the air, someone that will throw his body in front of the ball if needed. (Oh my god I sound like I am his agent). Okay, I like him and after having seen how Vermaelen could cope with the PL I really do believe that Vertonghen could also be a very good signing for Arsenal.
But at the end of the day, who am I to say who we should buy or how we should resolve any problems we have? I leave it up to the people in the know, to sort the problems. I will be there to support the players on the field. Whoever plays left back.
The left back situation: maybe Arsene doesn’t need to buy
Players who leave Arsenal normally don’t do very well in their careers
The statistical analysis: What would be the best option: Samba or Cahill?
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On the history site: all the Arsenal players who are now coaches or managers
@Woolwich Peripatetic:
“a 3-3-1-3 as Bielsa IIRC tried”
I’m afraid you’ve lost me as far Bielsa IIRC are concerned
As for congesting the left flank to open up space on the right, I think it’s an interesting idea. It’s one of those things that makes me wish that I was Arsene Wenger so I could try it out in practice and see what would happen
Marco Bielsa is probably the most attacking coach in international football. Which is putting it mildly. He makes Ian Holloway look like Sam Allardyce. His Chile side generally plays three at the back, a holding midfielder and two wing backs, an advanced playmaker, an old school centre forward and two wing forwards. A few times when they’ve conceded the only player in their half has been their goalkeeper.
Slight mistake on my part, his proper name is Marcelo not Marco.
Thanks for these two articles, Walter. It’s a fresh breeze between all the transfer gossip to read an article about how to coope with the departure of Clichy. Pity he left, but I think Arsenal will manage without him.
I stopped following the Dutch competition closely a few years ago, having always supported Ajax. So I have not seen Vertonghen play much, but take your word on it he might be a good addition. Recently e has made some comments about his future on Ajax TV (translated from Dutch):
“I am focussed on Ajax.”
“There is no reson to leave right now.”
“I wanted to play in the Champions League and can do so at Ajax. We have a fantastic group and the atmosphere is perfect. If you doubt, then those things are decisive.”
It looks like he’s happy at Ajax and does not feel any need to leave, but if a good opportunity comes up – say, playing at Arsenal with Vermaelen – he might say Ajax goodbye.
@Woolwich Peripatetic:
Oh, ok, the Chilean national coach. I guess I just didn’t pause long enough to decipher your acronym. It’s funny, I actually was closely watching the Chile-Mexico match in the Copa America last week, because I was so impressed with the way that Chile was playing. Now that you’ve made this comment, I’ll be watching their defense even more closely next time they play. Thanks
I would prefer a more attacking left back. The left side was always such a threat for us in great Wenger teams nowadays most of our attacks go down the right using Nasri’s dribbles or Walcotts pace Arshavin is lazy maybe Gervinho will take his place or maybe a rampaging left back who who spends more time running forward than Andrey might spur him on a bit. He should also be able to defend a bit Baines is the ideal player but at about half the asking price 20m for a left back is nuts
If you’re going to play Arshavin on the left then perhaps a very defensive left back is a better option.