Vermaelen named new captain of Arsenal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Thomas Vermaelen will captain the Gunners following the departure of Robin van Persie.
The Dutchman completed his big-money move to Manchester United on Friday, penning a four-year deal with the 12-time Premier League champions.
Reports had suggested that Wenger will turn to Jack Wilshere to succeed Van Persie to lead the Gunners, but he has named the Belgium international instead.
Vermaelen has struggled with injuries since his move to Emirates Stadium from Ajax in 2009, but Wenger is confident that the defender can step up to the plate.
Ahead of Arsenal's Premier League opener against Sunderland, Wenger announced his new captain and vice-captain, saying: "It is [Thomas] Vermaelen and [Mikel] Arteta.
"Vermaelen was vice-captain, so it is a quick decision. I think we have many potential captains in the squad but at the moment it will be like that."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Nick Moore is a freelance journalist based on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. He wrote his first FourFourTwo feature in 2001 about Gerard Houllier's cup-treble-winning Liverpool side, and has continued to ink his witty words for the mag ever since. Nick has produced FFT's 'Ask A Silly Question' interview for 16 years, once getting Peter Crouch to confess that he dreams about being a dwarf.
‘Maybe I’ll be signed by Wrexham, who knows? English football would suit me – if an offer came, I wouldn’t think twice, I’d go immediately’ Euro 2024 cult hero reveals his UK dream
‘Managing Leeds? It was an option that appeared, but it wasn’t the right timing. I decided it wasn’t a good idea to leave the club I was at mid-season’: Premier League boss admits to turning down opportunity to replace Jesse Marsch in 2023