OTG Returns! (…) – Versatile Vermaelen Will Oust Silvestre, New Song and England’s Next Great Left Back?

Well, I’m back as you should be able to diverge from the title and it’s time to take over the world! Well…

Just Arsenal fans really.

The season of 2008/2009 is over and it was largely a disappointing one. Once again, we end the season trophy-less and I expect the cabinet is getting lonely, especially with the news it will not be retaining one of it’s trophies. 

Yes, Ajax have decided to excluded us from the tournament because we simply win every year! This is something Ajax cannot claim to do any more in any competition, not that we can to much an extent. Clearly, Ajax want to win something badly and this is shown by their bizarre inclusion of relegation dogfight regulars Sunderland. The unbeaten season seems beyond recognition as Arsenal Football Club has dithered over the last couple of seasons to 4th place finishes and quarter and semi final runs which ended with a lack of urgency, leadership and performance and ultimately disappointment.

Yet, I am not one to be all bitter with no sweet and whilst the trophy cabinet might be as bitter as Rafa Benitez after a war of words with Alex Ferguson inevitably went the Scotsman’s way , the potential is as sweet as Theo Walcott’s smile after he scored his hat-trick for England way back in September.

Alex Song no longer looks like a robot who is only able to move in one direction – Sideways. He know makes lobbed through balls (Eduardo v Burnley), simple but intelligent passes and occasionally runs with the ball. He can also play centre back very efficiently and with Thomas Vermaelen in, and able to play Centre back and on the left side of defense, I can see Mikael Silvestre’s reign ending in the near future. We have Kolo Toure and William Gallas, who contrary to various reports, I do not believe will be leaving and DJ who is firmly establishing himself as the best back up centre back in the league. That leaves Silvestre very much out of the picture and with a fairly mediocre first season under his belt, his tenure at the club does not have much reason to be prolonged. 

On the topic of exciting young defenders, we have new signing Vermaelen, revelation of 08/09 Kieran Gibbs and wealth of talented left backs which the young English U-21 International looks to have usurped to become Gael Clichy’s understudy. Armand Traore’s season faded away after a bright start as a left winger. As this where he will ultimately play? And will he get a look in next season? Pedro Botelho looks set to stay in Spain for a final season in which he must prove himself, with temperamental problems leading to a termination of his loan contract at Salamanca. He recognized this himself, stating “I have learned many things at UDS, but I recognize that the end of this year has been the worst [of his stay at the club]”.

Thomas Vermaelen was reportedly signed for somewhere in between 8 and 11 Million, although I expect the lower figure is more likely with further payments a possibility depending on Thomas Vermaelen’s achievements at the club. It’s an unusual Wenger transfer – the most he has ever payed for a centre back, although Lauren and recently, Bakary Sagna have been brought in for around the same fee. He certainly has some experience and so should be able to deal with the Premier League better than Senderos ever did. He is rated very highly in the Netherlands but he has not yet proven himself on the big stage – Premier League or La Liga (the Serie A arguably a second tier League these days along with the Bundesliga). Furthermore, his inclusion to the squad does not add much experience in terms of a winning mentality. Belgium are hardly the most successful country and the most he has won with Ajax are the KNVP Cup (Dutch equivalent to the FA Cup) and the Johann Cruyff Shield (Equivalent to the Charity Shield) twice. This is, however, more than most who grace the club at the moment. He does score goals, not in abundance, but a healthy amount – with a similar record to William Gallas (albeit for a shorter period and not in a Top Tier League). Time will tell whether he is a worthwhile signing and I’m sure, with Wenger’s usual prudence in transfer dealings, the sum of money will not weigh too much on our minds.

Kieran Gibbs had a fantastic season in which he proved his all-round qualities. He shows the ability to defend and attack, with the pace of Armand Traore but also raw tenacity, passing ability, positioning and consistency. However, he is not the finished article as we have seen but subtle mistakes. The one against Manchester United was not so subtle and, although anyone could have made that mistake, his reaction for the next 35 or so minutes before he was taken off show that he is not quite ready. Losing Clichy would be a disaster right now. In two years though – I’m not so sure. A tidy profit and a readymade replacement would not be so bad. Kieran Gibbs could certainly gain even more experience soon as his impressive performances for the England U-21s and Wenger’s expectation that he will gain a senior squad place soon give him as good a claim as anyone to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Theo Walcott and the petulant Cashley Cole. We could also have Pedro Botelho soon, and I say could because his attitude is not quite right and this needs a total overhaul if he is to be equipped to put on the Red and White jersey worn by such great left backs as Kenny Sansom and Nigel Winterburn.

 

That is all for today. But for now:

Pass it sooner! Be a One Touch Gooner!