Vermaelen positive ahead of new season

The Belgian missed the middle eight months of the 2010/11 season thanks to an Achilles injury, but returned for the London side's final two Premier League matches.

GEAR:Save 10% on new Arsenal home and away kits. Free delivery on orders over £50

And the 25-year-old centre-back believes it is important for everybody at Emirates Stadium to forget the frustrations of last term and approach the new season with a positive mindset.

“Everybody starts from zero and everybody has to start again,” he told Arsenal's official website.

“You get a new chance and that’s always a good feeling when people give you another chance to win something. The past is behind us and it’s good to look into the future.

“That’s what we do now - we start all over again with a new chance and we will go for it this year.”

Vermaelen also spoke of his excitement at playing in the upcoming Emirates Cup, in which Arsenal will compete with New York Red Bulls, Paris Saint-Germain and Boca Juniors in their now traditional pre-season warm-up.

“These are the first games we play at the Emirates in the season so it always feels like a new start,” the former Ajax star explained. “It feels like that so I am looking forward to playing there."

WIN:Tickets to the 2011 Emirates Cup

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Gary Parkinson is a freelance writer, editor, trainer, muso, singer, actor and coach. He spent 14 years at FourFourTwo as the Global Digital Editor and continues to regularly contribute to the magazine and website, including major features on Euro 96, Subbuteo, Robert Maxwell and the inside story of Liverpool's 1990 title win. He is also a Bolton Wanderers fan.