How do Arsenal solve the Thomas Vermaelen situation?

The Football Space Arsenal expert, Ollie Turner ponders over the future of Arsenal club captain Thomas Vermaelen. Can he afford a season on the bench and still make the loaded Belgium World Cup squad?

Although currently club captain, the future of Thomas Vermaelen as an Arsenal player is anything but certain. Gaining the nickname of ‘The Verminator’ after an explosive first few seasons, the Belgian quickly established himself as one of the best central defenders in the Premiership. However, after a string of poor performances, missed interceptions and moments of complete lack in concentration, Wenger dropped Vermaelen to the sidelines.

However, the main issue for him now is not his place in the Arsenal team; it’s the competition he faces for a position in the Belgian national team at the 2014 World Cup. The Belgian team is brimming with talent from the front to back, and Vermaelen faces fierce competition from the likes of Van Buyten, Vertonghen, Pocognoli, Van Damme, De Bock and current captain, Vincent Kompany, for his space in the defence.

Undoubtedly, the Belgian needs more game time than he had last season if he hopes to get into such a considerably strong squad. Seemingly then, he only has two realistic options: up his game and force a way back into the Arsenal first team, or hand in a transfer request.

The best option for all concerned would be for Vermaelen to find his form again and get back to his ability of two years ago. There is only one way that he can do that, and that’s by putting incredible effort at the training ground. However, even with such determination, the Belgian will struggle to break through the new partnership of Koscielny and Mertesacker, who helped Arsenal to hold the strongest defence in the league for the second half of last season (conceding only 15 goals in the last 19 games).

The only realistic possibility for him is to replace Mertesacker on the team sheet, who at times can be a tad clumsy; Koscielny was Arsenal’s key man at the back last season and is almost guaranteed a first team place. Either way, Vermaelen’s path to first team football won’t be easy. But perhaps with the added determination, he will prove himself once more as a player worthy of the Belgian national team.

Of course, the easiest option would be for the current skipper to move on from the Emirates. Despite the lull in his form, there’s interest in the defender from all around. If he headed away to Everton, for example, he would be the perfect replacement for an ageing Heitinga, and combined with Jagielka, he could be part of a superb defensive set up.

There are issues with the move away, however. It would be messy; Arsenal are likely to be reluctant to let their captain leave the club for a third time on the trot, and the security and depth he provides the Gunners with is something that Wenger will not want to let go of.

So it seems Vermaelen finds himself in a spot of bother. He has a choice: force a way out of the team that cherished him so recently, or bring blood, sweat and tears into his performances on the training ground to get back on top of his game. The next 12 months will be some of the biggest in the big Belgian’s career, and he has to make his decisions wisely.

What do you think? Should Vermaelen stay at Arsenal? Will he attempt a transfer? Would Arsenal let him go? Or maybe you don’t think the national team is that important? Let us know in the comment section below.