Source: Telegraph
Thomas Vermaelen tells how his holiday idyll was broken by Arsène Wenger's call
There was no small talk. The Arsenal manager simply explained how much he wanted the 23-year-old former Ajax captain in his team, telling him they would speak further when he arrived in north London. Vermaelen was impressed. 'It was a very short call but I felt the respect,' he said. [LNB]A £10 million deal was quickly sealed. It made Vermaelen the second most expensive player in the history of Belgium football and the most costly defender that Wenger has ever bought. [LNB] Related ArticlesFantasy: empty Arsenal?Opening day hammeringsWenger: Wilshere will get his chanceCeltic v Arsenal previewBarcelona rule out Fabregas moveWith a goal on his debut in Saturday's 6-1 demolition of Everton, Vermaelen has already repaid a small installment on a price-tag he regards as a source of inspiration rather than intimidation. 'This brings no pressure or stress,' he said. 'It just gives me confidence. If they pay so much after they see you play, they believe in your qualities.' [LNB]The importance of tonight's Champions League first-leg qualifier against Celtic is underlined by Vermaelen's admission that he specifically joined Arsenal for the opportunity in Europe. [LNB]Vermaelen, though, is not the physical defensive presence many supporters had craved. Instead, he is a mobile, ball-playing centre-half who is strong in the tackle but, if anything, stands slightly shorter than William Gallas, his centre-back partner. [LNB]'I'm not so tall, I know that, so you have to be good at reading the game,' said Vermaelen. 'I think my heading game is good. On the field it's just very important to be smart.'[LNB]Tony Adams, perhaps Arsenal's greatest defender, has been quick to sound a note of caution. 'I think Thomas is a very good player, but I don't think he's ready for Arsenal,' he said. [LNB]Wenger disagrees and made the decision to buy Vermaelen after a scouting operation that involved watching him play more than 30 times. [LNB]Intriguingly, Vermaelen has since discovered that Arsenal even studied the way he performed in training both for Ajax and Belgium. 'He [the Arsenal scout] told me afterwards that he had hidden in the forest. I don't know whether that was a joke,' said Vermaelen. [LNB]'That's good. They know immediately what they have. Some players do their best in the match, but do not want to work on the training. They know here at Arsenal more about me than you might think. For example, I do not drink. That was very important.'[LNB]The settling-in process is well under way with Vermaelen and his girlfriend Aimee having moved to Hampstead and begun English lessons. He also intends to read Fever Pitch, Nick Hornby's cult Arsenal book. Initially, he travelled around London on the Tube but has been warned by his team-mates that will soon not be feasible. [LNB]With Johan Djourou injured and Kolo Touré sold to Manchester City, there will be no gentle introduction. Touré, of course, was the last of the famous 'Invincible' team to leave Arsenal. [LNB]It is a sizeable challenge but, if Vermaelen does become a big success, he could yet prove to be the final piece in the most daring jigsaw that Wenger has yet assembled.[LNB]
