Klaus wrote:

Vermaelen is a much better defender.

But still not very good.

He's been bobbins in the last few months but he's an excellent defender.

Still hope we sign Vertonghen, definitely a good player and with the potential to be a very good player, I just think he still has it all to prove.

In other news there's a story doing the rounds over here that Everton wants Mellberg this summer. His contract with Olympiakos is up apparently and he fancies a return to England.

Couldn't help but wonder if it might be connected with Jagielka in some way. We clearly tried to sign him last summer and Everton are strapped for cash. Makes sense that we would try again if we're on the lookout for a defender.

Ricky1985 wrote:
YounGunner wrote:

What? Ask any Ajax fan and they will tell you Vertonghen is the better defender and he is.

Ask any United fan and they'll tell you Rooney is a much better striker than van Persie.

Vermaelen's streets ahead of Vertonghen at this point.

I'm talking about when they were both at Ajax. There's a reason why Vermaelen is shafted to left back for Belgium and Vertonghen gets the central role with Kompany.

Ajax fans were glad to see the back of Vermaelen for 12 million. He has blossomed into a top class defender but he hasn't looked very convincing recently.

There's a reason why Vermaelen is shafted to left back for Belgium and Vertonghen gets the central role with Kompany.

Are you sure it's not more because Vertonghen is a shit left back? At the prices being quoted and the age he's at, it'd be a miracle if this guy could really play across the left of the defence and at DM at Premier League level.

Seems more likely that Vertonghen is as average at left back as Vermaelen is, and possibly not much chop at DM either.

Vertonghen is not very good at LB. He is much better at central role. He is also very comfortable in DM as that was his natural position before he moved to CB.

Vertonghen just won the POTY btw

Course he does. He always chases players we have been linked to

"Arsenal started it and now you also see clubs like Newcastle United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur playing good football."

We're never going to lose the 'good football' tag even if we bought Peter Crouch and Delap.

Quite why that matters to him, I don't know. His job is to make football as unpretty as possible.

He'll go to Tottenham.

Patters wrote:

"Arsenal started it and now you also see clubs like Newcastle United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur playing good football."

We're never going to lose the 'good football' tag even if we bought Peter Crouch and Delap.

Quite why that matters to him, I don't know. His job is to make football as unpretty as possible.

He'll go to Tottenham.

lol yea. Its the strength of the Arsenal brand. We haven't played good football all season but everyone still thinks we do.

I reckon whoever gets 3rd place, will get Vertonghen.

It's relative to the other clubs, we've been involved in some entertaining games and had some high scoring wins in the big matches. And the general philosophy of the club hasn't changed.

If we are really in for him reckon he will choose us over United. He is close with Vermaelen and looks like he is friends with VP as well.

Depends how good they think Vertonghen can be. For the fee rumoured he's a hard man to turn down for anyone.

I guess the Jones signing didn't work out as planned. Glad we didn't sign him. Good player but clueless defensively.

He's 20. Think they bought him for what he might become as much as what he is. He does need to find a position though.

Looks like Vertonghen has chosen Spurs. He wants first team football and thats what only they can promise him