The duel between Arsenal and arch rivals Tottenham continue despite the fact that the season is now over and the final league positions have been decided long ago, and Tottenham have now been assigned a place in the Europa League.
The two sides are now battling it out for the services of Ajax’s center-back Jan Vertonghen, who has managed to catch the attention of both sides with his amazing performances which aided Ajax in their attempts to win the Dutch league this season.
Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger sent mixed signals a month back, saying that Jan Vertonghen is a very interesting player and that they would be able to use such abilities, but pointing out the fact that he’s a defender and that Arsenal are already packed in the center of the defense, with the likes of Vermaelen, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Djourou and Miquel.
Tottenham on the other hand have been trying their best to sign the footballer in their attempts to become a better side for next season, and to finally catch a Champions League spot now that Chelsea have knocked them off the fourth position.
Vertonghen seems to be leaning a bit towards Arsenal after he visited the club to see the game against AC Milan. His friend Thomas Vermaelen’s presence in the squad is probably another focus point for the tall central defender who stated his clear intentions of joining the Premiership.
Since when was he favoring arsenal it was the oppisite actually
come on mr Wenger Vertonghen is the quality we need now, you cant compare him with Djourou or Miquel, let him, you will never regret.
If arsenal board memebers will act fast this signing must definitely happen. We could not the following players last season, Juan Mata, Cahill look at their respective help to chelsea. The above mentioned players could have been arsenal players by now. Please don’t this highly rated defender veltogon. He must wear red & white jessy.
Unfortunately, because of Chelsea’s obligatory “against the run of play” win on Saturday, we now have to play qualifiers. If Vertonghen doesn’t commit to Spurs because they are not in the Champions’ League then is he going to commit to a team whose future in that competition is yet to be decided?
Arsenal and Chelsea both go straight into UCL group stage. Our future is decided.
We don’t need to play qualifiers, all four english teams go directly into group stages this year.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/arsenal-s-champions-league-status-in-2012/13
Youre wrong, we go straight to the knockout stages. Dont post if you dont know what youre talking about.
Agee with you ^
We’re not buying Vertonghen, move on.
Why would we want to hijack a deal for a player we are not interested in? Do you honestly think that any player given the choice between the two of us would even consider joining spurs? Buy vertongen to play where? Verm and kos are 1st choice,and dont tell me that rubbish about moving verm to left back to accomodate him. There is no race to sign vertongen,spurs want him, arsenal DONT!!! If wenger ever wanted vertongen he would never have bought mertersaker.
@seagoon are you sure arsenal will have to play a qualifiy to secure a spot in champions league…?? Brief me about it.
Someone tell me what part of Arsenal is not packed. Some time ago Wenger claimed midfield was n now defence is (but concede 49 goals & 3against Norwich. ) let him be serious or just leave, arsenal has guantity but not guantity.
I think if we really wanted this Vertonghen we would have got him by now,don’t think we’re that interested although we should be as this is the type of defender we need….
Who said we have to play qualifier?There was a official statement in EPL website that Arsenal are automatic choice irrespective of Chelsea’s position.Thus we are in the Champions League and will not play qualifiler.BTW I really want Vertonghen to come.
I’d go for Skrtel as a proven EPL performer, and then you can probably recover most of that money by offloading Mertesacker who is still coming to terms with the EPL and is still worth something to the Bundesliga teams. Then I’d go for Baines to replace Santos and you have a top notch backline.
We’re not interested in him at all and that’s because we don’t need him.
Let’s not forget of those five defenders listed above that Bartley is back too.
Our problem isn’t lack of defenders, it’s injuries.
Wilshere’s injury at the start of the season meant we only had Song as defensive cover in midfield, which we solved when we bought Arteta. Our next blip was when we had no full backs at all, this forced us to play our CB’s out wide and they then picked up lots of niggles and knocks. Then our final few matches where we nearly threw 3rd place away again was down to not having Arteta on the pitch.
We have no room or need of Vertongen if we can get Wilshere, Coquelin and Arteta fit for next season we will have a great selection of deep lying midfielders to mop up. The Vermaelen/Koscielny partnership is going to be one that rules the premier league if we can keep them playing together.