Thomas Vermaelen: Arsenal must get serious about title charge

Thomas Vermaelen has warned Arsenal cannot afford to be off their game for one moment if they are to mount a serious title challenge once again.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 Fabregasnot be deemed match fit.Arsene Wenger's men failed to stay the distance in the last campaign, with lapses in concentration proving costly. Gunner get serious: Vermaelen says Arsenal can not afford any slip-ups this seasonPoints 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.Vermaelen, though, insists the Gunners are wiser for the experience.'You have to look at all games which we lost, and each one had its own story,' Vermaelen told Arsenal TV Online.'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. We are one year older now, more experienced.'For myself, as an individual, I have learned a lot last year and I hope I can improve.'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. Ready to go: Vermaelen believes with Robin Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal are well-equipped to challenge for honours'The difference now is that everything is not new to me anymore, but sometimes the second season is more difficult than the first.'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.'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.'We have trained hard, are motivated and are ready for the first game against Liverpool.' Sign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsSchwarzer showdown: Keeper flies in to confront Hughes over Arsenal moveWenger's No 1 target Mertesacker snubs Arsenal to stay at BremenGallas demands put Tottenham off of bid for former Arsenal captain GallasARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail