Thursday, August 4, 2011

Vermaelen expects Arsenal to mount serious title challenge

Arsenal's versatile defender Thomas Vermaelen has rendered his unconditional support for the Gunners' beautiful, but highly criticised style of play.

The Belgian international spent ample time on the sidelines reading the club physio's injury manual during his lay-off last season. Vermaelen believes his return from injury will add the much needed grit and experience presently lacking in the first team, and insists the team has what it takes to challenge for trophies on all fronts starting from next month.

Furthermore, he stated in unequivocal terms that with the help of a few adjustments the club will be a force to reckon with in World football: The following statement is culled from the official website.

“I don’t think we are going to do much different in the way we play,” he said at a Question and Answer session on Members’ Day. “I was not playing last year but I was watching games and in February/March I thought we were going to win the League. I think it is about small things and last season we only lost it in the final few weeks.

“What we do have to do is perform better in the second half of the season, in the New Year. That is where we dropped too many points. But I don’t think we have to change the way that we play. We beat a lot of teams this way. It is just the small details that will make a difference and I hope we can win it this year.”