Vermaelen Uncertain Over Arsenal Future

Vermaelen Uncertain Over Arsenal Future

According to Yahoo! Eurosport, Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen is concerned about his position in the Belgian national side that travels to Brazil next year, as the former Ajax player struggles to get a first team spot at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have been in top form over the last two months, and have excelled in every competition. The defence, which had been a cause of concern for Arsene Wenger, has seen a drastic improvement this season, with the back four sticking together. Laurent Koscielny, who had been a target for Bayern Munich, has established his place in the starting eleven. His central defensive partner, Per Mertesacker, has led the side on several occasions this campaign, and has been consistent with his performances.


Vermaelen has had a frustrating spell at the club, after being inconsistently selected in recent months even though he is still the club captain. Even when Vermaelen did get a run in the side, he was forced to play out of position due to an injury crisis in the defensive department. The Belgian has a task on his hands to get a place in the national side, as the national manager will be looking at a variety of players to make the best squad for the FIFA World Cup next year. Most players looking to get a spot in the final squad have ensured through loan deals or transfers that they get sufficient playing time with their respective clubs. However, with Arsenal sitting top of the Barclays Premier League, it seems unlikely that Wenger will change much about the lineup. With the winter schedules usually causing issues for the top sides due to the increasing regularity of matches in different competitions, Wenger will need depth in his squad, and Vermaelen’s experience will prove to be an asset during that phase in the campaign.

The 27-year old joined Arsenal in 2009, after making 99 appearances for Ajax. He has made 97 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 13 goals in the process.