Source: Team_Talk
Vermaelen rallies Arsenal
Thomas Vermaelen has warned Arsenal cannot afford to be off their game for one moment if they are to mount a serious title bid. [LNB] The Gunners open the quest for a first championship since 2004 at Liverpool on Sunday, where the Belgian centre-half could well be captain should Cesc Fabregas not be deemed match fit.[LNB]Arsene Wenger's men failed to stay the distance in the last campaign, with lapses in concentration proving costly. Points which would have kept them in the hunt were thrown away in conceding a last-minute equaliser at Birmingham and then inexplicably losing at Wigan having been 2-0 ahead.[LNB]Vermaelen, though, insists the Gunners are wiser for the experience.[LNB]"You have to look at all games which we lost, and each one had its own story," Vermaelen told Arsenal TV Online.[LNB]"In football, it is really difficult to perform at a high level in every game - and that is what we have to do every year.[LNB]"We are one year older now, more experienced.[LNB]"For myself, as an individual, I have learned a lot last year and I hope I can improve.[LNB]"I feel the same pressure as I did last year, that is to be as good for the team as I can, to perform the best I can and to win some things.[LNB]"The difference now is that everything is not new to me anymore, but sometimes the second season is more difficult than the first."[LNB]Despite all of the summer speculation surrounding the future of their captain as Arsenal successfully fended off Barcelona, the Gunners enjoyed a decent pre-season build-up which included victory in their Emirates Cup tournament.[LNB]Vermaelen, who settled straight into the team after his £10million arrival from Ajax last summer, maintains the players cannot wait for the action to start again.[LNB]"We are all very positive and have had a good pre-season," said the 24-year-old, who was away in Finland with the Belgian national team this week.[LNB]"We have trained hard, are motivated and are ready for the first game against Liverpool."[LNB]Arsenal had most of their first-team squad away on international duty this week.[LNB]It remains to be seen whether Fabregas - who was given extra time off after playing in the World Cup final - returns from Spain's trip to Mexico in any shape to face Liverpool.[LNB]Robin van Persie, though, could be in contention as he was not included in the Dutch squad for their game in Ukraine.[LNB]Carlos Vela will also be assessed having featured against Spain, and Wenger will be hoping Jack Wilshere has shrugged off the stomach complaint which hampered his England debut at Wembley.[LNB]Andrey Arshavin will be looking to continue his own fine record at Liverpool, having smashed all of Arsenal's goals there in a thrilling 4-4 draw two seasons ago.[LNB]It remains to be seen who will start the new campaign as Wenger's number one, with Lukasz Fabianski having featured for Poland against Cameroon as he looks to oust Manuel Almunia.[LNB]Much is expected of summer signing Marouane Chamakh, the striker in action for Morocco on Wednesday, but it is in central midfield where Wenger could have something of a selection headache this weekend.[LNB]With doubts over Fabregas' fitness added to concerns for Abou Diaby, Alex Song and Denilson, 18-year-olds Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong could be thrown in at the deep end.[LNB]However, another option would be to bring Frenchman Samir Nasri into the centre, as he played there last season when Fabregas was injured, while Emmanuel Eboue showed his versatility by playing in midfield as Ivory Coast beat Italy 1-0 at Upton Park on Tuesday.[LNB]Summer recruit Laurent Koscielny could make his Premier League debut given the lack of cover at centre-back.
