Huge Vermaelen Boost For Arsenal | Legend Offers Wenger Advice

Arsenal have been struck down by several injuries this season;  Wilshere, Diaby, Djourou and now Sagna are all out of action. Whether it is simply terribly bad luck on Arsenal’s part, or that the warming up, preparation and/or training needs looking at, may need to be discussed, but there is some light at the end of this very long, dark, damp, smelly tunnel which Arsenal find themselves in.

For there is good news on Thomas Vermaelen’s injury. He will soon be returning to the Arsenal side – a side in desperate need for the leadership, strength, power and general aura he brings. One month after undergoing surgery on his ankle, the Belgian central defender is back in light training, and described his training session as a “great step forward” on his Twitter account. He continued:

“First run outside without any pain or discomfort. Hopefully I can make good progress this week.”

The sooner he is back in an Arsenal shirt, the better. The side always seem to miss him when he is absent from the team, and he seems to have been rather unfortunate with injuries in the past few seasons, suffering an Achilles problem last season, and an ankle problem this. The Arsenal vice-captain, who is now 25 years-old, will add needed experience and confidence into a back-line which has conceded a mightily embarrassing 16 goals in just 7 games so far this season.

It is a massive problem which will destroy any chance of success this season if it is not addressed, and it is one that former Arsenal goalkeeping legend, David Seaman knows all about. He was part of a a hugely successful defensive force for well over 10 years with the club, winning three Championships, four F.A. Cups and a number of other trophies which the modern Arsenal have only watched their rivals lift. Seaman said:

“In 1991, we trained so much on that back four. Pat Rice [Arsenal assistant manager] was there so he knows what needs to be done. We trained and trained and trained and it worked, but at the moment the goalkeeper Szczesny is getting too much to do.”

“He’s showing how good he is but I don’t like to see that. A goalkeeper for Arsenal normally has one or two saves a match and that’s it. But at the moment he’s keeping the scoreline down.”

So it is hard work which is needed on that defence in order to succeed. A defensive coach would be a start for Arsenal, and returns from injuries also wouldn’t be too bad either. Whatever way Wenger decides to deal with the clear issue in the Arsenal team, he really must work swiftly to tighten up the back-four and prevent any further extensive damage being done to the already fragile goal difference of -6.