Lengthy injury has helped me learn about my weaknesses – Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen

Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal(Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

Players

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen has revealed that he has learnt a lot about the weaknesses in his game while he has been sidelined for the most part of the season.

The Belgian, who sustained a tendon injury at the beginning of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, has been watching his team-mates and examining his own defects.

“I’ve learned a lot while I’ve been out,” said Vermaelen told the official Gunners website.

“Mentally for sure, but I also had the time to work on some of my weaknesses. Things you do not have time for when you play a lot of games.

“I saw Chelsea, Man United, Tottenham, Barcelona passing me by – top games for sure. And that’s frustrating: you want to be on the pitch. In the stands, especially against Barcelona, you feel more tension than on the field.

“I was quite nervous, I noticed, even during the return match I watched on TV. I wanted so badly that we went through.

“But on the other hand, on television and in the stands you have a better view of the game. You can learn from the positioning of other defenders, while watching them. And that’s what I did.”