Vermaelen unhappy with full back role

by Setanta Staff , 12 February 2012

Thomas Vermaelen has revealed his frustration at having to fill in at left-back for Arsenal as he doesn't see it as his best position.


Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has turned to Vermaelen in recent weeks to do a job for the side due to injuries to regular full-back Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos.

The Belgian international is widely regarded as the club's best centre-back and while he understands the reasons behind Wenger's request to perform in a different role, he admits he would rather be in the middle.

Vermaelen goes on to say that his patience is wearing thin at the Frenchman's continued policy of using Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker in the heart of Arsenal's defence and he can't wait for the situation to change.

The 26-year-old told The People: "I am fed up playing at left-back. I don't think I am good there - I want to achieve my highest level and I can't do that on the left.

"I play there to help the team but it gives me no satisfaction as I can't reach my best standard.

"I do my job but seldom feel content after matches. If the team wins I am happy, but it remains frustrating."

Vermaelen has also spoken of his disappointment at losing the Belgium captaincy to Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany.

"I'm not happy about it," said Vermaelen, who moved to Arsenal from Ajax in 2009. I was proud to wear the armband."

Watch GAA games live on PPV
Pos
Team P W D L +/- PTS
1.
Man City
38
28
5
5
64
89
2.
Man Utd
38
28
5
5
56
89
3.
Arsenal
38
21
7
10
25
70
4.
Tottenham
38
20
9
9
25
69
5.
Newcastle
38
19
8
11
5
65
6.
Chelsea
38
18
10
10
19
64
7.
Everton
38
15
11
12
10
56
8.
Liverpool
38
14
10
14
7
52
9.
Fulham
38
14
10
14
-3
52
10.
West Brom
38
13
8
17
-7
47
11.
Swansea
38
12
11
15
-7
47
12.
Norwich
38
12
11
15
-14
47
13.
Sunderland
38
11
12
15
-1
45
14.
Stoke
38
11
12
15
-17
45
15.
Wigan
38
11
10
17
-20
43
16.
Aston Villa
38
7
17
14
-16
38
17.
QPR
38
10
7
21
-23
37
18.
Bolton
38
10
6
22
-31
36
19.
Blackburn
38
8
7
23
-30
31
20.
Wolverhampton
38
5
10
23
-43
25
Watch Online
Edit Web Part Contents