Arsenal Football Club

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60432

Vermaelen impresses Wenger

20 Sep 2009 - 10:33:16

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was full of praise for summer signing Thomas Vermaelen after the defender scored twice in the 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium.

The Belgium international has already scored four goals in eight games for the Gunners since joining from Ajax and Wenger is delighted with the way the 23-year-old has settled in.

He told the club's official website: "You can question his height but not his leap. That makes up for his height, but he's taller than you expect.

"He has a very, very strong upper body and a very, very good leap. His leap is very sharp and he is very quick and that is something very important on headers.

"He will not score 25 goals this year, but he has scored more already than I expected him to.

"I don't know. I believe he is first a defender and if he can keep us a few clean sheets it's even better.

"On set-pieces he looks strong because he has the timing and the leap, so I thought he could get maybe six or seven goals."