adminLONDON. — Thomas Vermaelen has hinted he may have to look for a move away from Arsenal if his World Cup soccer chances are affected by a lack of playing time. Vermaelen has been kept out of the Gunners side so far this season, playing only 10 minutes in the English Premier League with Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker in outstanding form.
Although the club’s captain is not unduly concerned, with his season starting late because of a back injury, he admitted he would ideally like to regain his regular role to ensure his place in Belgium’s first-team for next summer’s tournament in Brazil.
Vermaelen was expected to start in last night’s qualifying clash with Wales — a dead rubber after Belgium qualified last week — but there is as much, if not more, competition for a place in their starting line-up with the experienced Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen and Daniel Van Buyten among those vying for places at the heart of their defence.
“I’ll have to think about that when it’s necessary. January is still a few months ahead. Of course, never playing will not be the ideal situation for me to go to the World Cup, that’s for sure,” Vermaelen told the Daily Mail.
“People ask me if I panic because I’m not playing a lot but I’m not.
“I have spoken to the manager but it will remain private between us. Things can happen in a split second and change my situation. That can happen tomorrow or next weekend.
“In that case, we will speak differently in January. I have to be ready for that.” Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger is prepared to make more big-money moves at Arsenal, but will also persevere with youth development.
The Gunners boss broke with tradition over the summer as he secured the signature of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid in a club record deal.
Wenger has favoured a more prudent approach to player recruitment in the past, with one eye forever locked on the future — both on and off the field. He insists nothing has changed, with plenty of emphasis still being placed on the work of a famed academy system, but the
Frenchman also acknowledges that spending is essential if progress is to be made.
Wenger told Arsenal’s official website: “The policy is exactly the same – I always want to bring the best players in here, world-class players, at the best possible price.
“And I want to continue to educate 60 to 80 percent of the squad ourselves. The culture of the club, the way we want to play football and the way we want to behave, comes from within.
“The (Jack) Wilsheres, the (Aaron) Ramseys, the (Kieran) Gibbs — these kind of players have to be the culture of the club.
“Then on top of that, we want to bring world-class players who will help us to be even stronger.”
Wenger, who splashed out over £40 million on Ozil, added: “It’s a big responsibility to spend that amount of money. But I feel comfortable with it because we had the money to do it. Before, we couldn’t have done it because we didn’t have the money available. It’s as simple as that.” —Sky Sports
Online Reporter