We might end today with a new number six
Add comment June 19th, 2009
Thomas Vermaelen arrives in London today for a medical that could see him become our first signing of a hugely important summer.
Since the Spring of 2008 (and arguably even even before that) Arsene has been looking for a left-footed centre-back with organisational qualities and an aerial presence. In Vermaelen (the current captain of Ajax and a man with a penchant for decisive headed interventions at both ends) he looks to have finally got his man.
He won’t come cheap. An undisclosed sum of around £10m will be the highest fee we’ve ever paid for a defender, though Sol Campbell’s huge wages made that as expensive a deal.
I don’t think there are a lot of of us who can claim to have seen Vermaelen play a great many times. On the occasions when I have watched him, I haven’t really noticed. In the case of a defender, that’s no bad thing. I remember with great clarity, for example, some of the more hapless performances of Philippe Senderos, whose number six shirt Vermaelen is likely to inherit.
Vermaelen will slot straight into the side. He’ll play the first game of the season and probably stay there. That’ll leave one of William Gallas and Kolo Toure out in the cold – and possibly out of the club. Kolo fiercely expressed his displeasure at being ommitted around Christmas, and I can’t imagine Gallas will be happy to be sat on the bench in a World Cup year. My hunch is that we might see the latter leave before the summer is out.
Just as the signing of Andrey Arshavin was a clear move to improve our creative efficiency, the arrival of Vermaelen is a positive step towards ammending our defensive deficiencies. The next neccessary step is the arrival of a holding midfielder. Once that is done I’ll begin to get excited about next season.
Amidst all the hoo-ha about about Theo Walcott being dropped from the England U21 squad, it’s worth noting that he came off the bench to grab an assist for the crucial second goal.
Finally, does anyone want an Arsenal season ticket for next year? The one I’ve had for some time is not actually in my name, and having now been offered one legitimately I am keen to take it up. I’d need someone to take it for the forthcoming season though.
For more details, use the Contact page. Cheers.
UPDATE: Vermaelen signs. Ajax confirm the fee as £10m rising to £12m. More tomorrow.
