http://bleacherreport.com/articles/3...-to-their-goal

Great read.

Often criticised for putting his faith in youngsters, Arsene Wenger still manages to have his team compete at the same top level year in, year out. What was originally shaping up to be a field day for the pundits at the start of the season, what with the sale of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure to Manchester City, the French tactician has somehow managed to keep his side very much in the game without spending ludicrous amounts of money, as the Gunners continue to fight for glory in both their European and domestic campaigns.

IN: Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax), Sol Campbell (Free Transfer)

OUT: Emmanuel Adebayor (Manchester City), Kolo Toure (Manchester City), Jay Simpson (Queens Park Rangers), Amaury Bischoff (Academica), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Doncaster Rovers), Jack Wilshere (Bolton Wanderers), Philippe Senderos (Everton)

Thomas Vermaelen: A

Splashing out a sum in the region of what they paid for Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin, Arsenal expected big things from the €12 million defender, and big things they got.

Scoring on his Premier League debut in a 6-1 thumping of a notoriously resilient Everton side, Vermaelen quickly became a fan favourite. Slotting seamlessly into the heart of the Gunners' defence alongside former captain William Gallas, the Belgian defender would continue his impressive run of form throughout the season.

After a particularly poor start to a cold September night in Vermaelen's home country, Arsenal found themselves down 2-0 after just five minutes of playing time – a scoreline that could easily have affected the visitors' mentality for the rest of their campaign. However, with Nicklas Bendtner having scraped one back just before the break, Vermaelen popped up on 78 minutes to provide a pivotal goal that gave the Gunners the boost they needed to go on and win the match. It was at that point that the 24-year-old proved that he was not only a great defender, but a potential match-winner.

Comfortably filling the boots of the now Citizen Kolo Toure, the Belgian star is wonderful in the air, a great tackler, and always a potential danger for any opposing defence on set pieces. Voted Arsenal's player of the month twice since his arrival and receiving a nomination for Belgian sportsman of the year for his contribution, Thomas Vermaelen has proved himself to be one of the best Premier League signings of this year.

Can't believe people boo'd Villa at half time and after the draw with wolves

so fickle

Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen appeals against West Ham red card

• Belgian defender sent-off against West Ham
• Wenger fears centre-half's absence at Birmingham


Arsenal will learn tomorrow whether their centre-back Thomas Vermaelen will be available to face Birmingham City on Saturday. A Football Association regulatory commission will hear a claim for wrongful dismissal following the Belgian's sending off against West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday.

Vermaelen was sent off after tangling with Guillermo Franco as the pair chased a bouncing ball into the penalty area. The referee, Martin Atkinson, was near the halfway line but saw his assistant Phil Sharp flag for a penalty. He therefore deemed the centre-half to have made contact with the forward and Vermaelen was sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, confronted the officials at half-time. Alessandro Diamanti missed the penalty and Arsenal won the match 2-0.

Wenger is anxious not to have to travel to St Andrew's without either of his first-choice centre-halves – William Gallas is out with a serious calf injury. Alex Song deputised against West Ham and could do so again, alongside Sol Campbell, should Atkinson's decision be upheld.

"The FA has received a claim for wrongful dismissal from Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen," said the FA in a statement. "Vermaelen was shown a red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity during Arsenal's match against West Ham United on Saturday 20 March. A Regulatory Commission will hear the claim on Tuesday 23 March."




Too bloody right, it was no penalty!

Football is always fickle:D, if you scored in the second half it would be like it never happened:joker:.

Yeah its quite silly.

Villa are still in a great position.

With 2 games in hand over liverpool and tottenham and 1 over city..

Right im off to bed now.

Night all.

but mon is making some awful decisions self admittedly

not buying a striker, continuing to play heskey

etc

dunnes a doubt for wednesday

Night Ben:):wavey:.

Nath do you think Villa have any hope of finishing 4th.. or do you think there is more work to be done?:).

we deffinetly have a chance, our run in is probably one of the easiest out of the 4th place candidates

weve only got chelsea out of the top 4 yet to play

We should of loaned out Curtis Davies with a recall option

I really do hope Villa get 4th but tbh this season think it will be City or Spurs:(, however theres been an improvement in progress and continuing it will give you more of a chance every season;).

I used to be so into football
i dunno whats happened to me:bawling:

Spurs haave got manure arsenal and chelsea left to play though I think :joker:

and Man City

Agreed he should have kept Harewood as back up till the summer at least then sold him and got in a striker or two:D.

Yes they have will be tough for them:laugh:. LOL I actually don't mind the name manure, heard Arsenal pronounced as Arsenil and Chelsea as Chelski but don't use the nicknames at all oh and Liverpool as Liverfool:joker:.

My most hated team always use to be everton, cause they were our main rivals and i hated there anti-football

but now they dont play anti football anymore, i just hate cahill and fellaini, dirty fckers


my new most hated team is Man City




I don't feel the Birmingham hate cause Ive never lived in birmingham and dont know any birmingham fans

I like the Toffee's:). I don't like obviously Liverpool then Wolves then Man City:D

Spurs and Leeds:lovedup:

Wolves fans are vile, me and my mates got started on when we went to molineux to watch ipswich vs wolves

I can't stand..

Man City.
Tottenham
Stoke

I dont hate spurs because of the rivalry because i dont mind west ham and i dont mind chelsea or fulham.

Spurs just piss me off..

Hope we beat them.

I think they have a good chance, winning your games in hand puts you above everyone does it not?

Would be great..

Liverpool winning europa so 5 english teams in champions league.

Have to say i think city would be the team that performs best in europe out of the 3.. could be wrong tho.