Arsenal Transfer Prospect: 10 Things You Need to Know About Jan Vertonghen

Arsenal suffered a patchy loss of form in the start of the year, triggering a great depression amongst the Arsenal faithful. Many AMGs (Arsene Must Go) and WOBs (Wenger Out Brigade) came out from their lairs during that period and requested Arsene Wenger’s head on a plate.

Arsenal’s loss to Fulham at the start of the year was highly unfortunate as Bobby Zamora’s sucker punch was basically the last fruitful attack any team had on that pitch. The embarrassing loss to Swansea was a bitter pill to swallow, but the events that occurred on the pitch when Manchester United visited the Emirates can’t be forgotten for years to come.

A manager that has made “50,000″ substitutions was questioned about his managerial and tactical ability when he withdrew an 18-year old upcoming star for Russia’s captain.

A major factor certainly contributed to Arsenal’s atrocious form in January, and one needs look no further than the fact that all recognized full-backs were nursing injuries during that period. The lack of natural full-backs distorted Arsenal’s balance as width, guile and most importantly, crosses were not offered from the flanks.

This prompted Wenger’s men to attack through the center, but the through passes weren’t really coming as Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky weren’t in good form at that point.

Andre Santos was out with ankle problems, Bacary Sagna was recuperating from a fractured leg suffered in October, Kieran Gibbs had groin issues while Carl Jenkinson had back problems.

While Thomas Vermaelen, Johan Djourou, Laurent Koscielny, Ignasi Miquel, Francis Coquelin and Nico Yennaris did their bit to hold the fort, some Arsenal fans (myself included) sent pleas for a new full-back to arrive at the Emirates.

While names like Wayne Bridge and Omani left-back Saad Al-Mukhaini were mentioned, the fans drooled at the prospect of the potential arrival of Ajax’s Jan Vertonghen. This is a sought-after player who is also on the radar of many illustrious European clubs.

Here are 10 things you need to know about Arsenal’s transfer prospect, Jan Vertonghen:

He’s Versatile

This is the principal reason why the juggernauts of European football want his signature. Jan Vertonghen is a natural center-back, but he’s also adept as a left-back and a holding midfielder, giving his manager options to cover for the worst injury crisis.

Vertonghen also has good technique as well as good positioning, making him a perfect candidate for any role his manager is willing to deploy him on the pitch.

He’s a Close Friend of Thomas Vermaelen

In his breakthrough 2008-09 campaign, Vertonghen forged a telepathic understanding with his defensive partner Thomas Vermaelen on and off the pitch. Vermaelen’s exit to Arsenal was a big wrench for Vertonghen, but he did well to forge a good understanding with Vermaelen’s replacement, Toby Alderweireld.

It’s worth noting that Alderweireld is of Belgian descent, like Vermaelen before him.

He Has Scored One of the Most Bizarre Goals in Existence

In 2006, there was an incident that occurred in a KNVB Cup game against Cambuur Leeuwarden, which was also his first-ever home game at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Ajax was 2-0 up when Vertonghen’s teammate suffered an injury, causing the ref to stop play. Vertonghen attempted to loft the ball back to the Cambuur goalkeeper while a teammate was receiving treatment, but the ball sailed past the shocked goalkeeper—much to the amusement of the spectators and the bewilderment of the players.

According to the FIFA Rule Book, a team is supposed to return play back to the side that played the ball out of play, but Vertonghen “returned play” by scoring a goal.

Unfortunately, the goal had to stand.

He Worked to Become the Ajax Captain

Vertonghen joined Ajax in 2003, but made his league debut three years later. Like Thomas Vermaelen, he secured a loan switch to RKC Waalwijk to boost his confidence, as well as to get much needed match fitness and playing time.

Following the exit of Luis Suarez to Liverpool in the winter of 2011, Vertonghen was appointed as the vice-captain to Maarten Stekelenburg. When Stekelenburg ended his amazing 10-year stint with Ajax to move to AS Roma, the captain’s armband was given to Vertonghen in his eighth year at the club.

He’s Fluent in Some European Languages

Despite the fact that football is widely regarded as a universal language, knowing the native tongue of the land in which you’re plying your trade can help you adapt quickly.

The French Ligue 1 can boast of the largest outlay of African contingent because of the nation’s former colonial relationship with several now-Francophone African countries.

Many West Africans ply their trade in France because the language makes it seem like “home away from home.”

Jan Vertonghen is of Belgian descent, so his fluency in Dutch will certainly be near perfect. However, he’s also adept in some Italian and everyone’s favorite, English. This would mean that Vertonghen won’t have any problems with the language barrier if he makes a switch to the Premier League.

(However, his expertise in foreign languages is nowhere near ex-Gunner Phillippe Senderos, who is believed to be fluent in French, English, German, Serbian, Spanish, Italian and some traces of Latin.)

He Began His Career in Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen Club

Like his buddy Thomas Vermaelen, Vertonghen began his career in the Belgian Pro League outfit Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen before he was snapped up by Ajax’s scouts.

Beerschot is a club that was formed in 1920 and their main rival is Royal Antwerp FC, an affiliate of Manchester United. Other prominent footballers that have placed their names in Germinal Beerschot folklore are Ibrahima Sidibe and Colombian icon Daniel Cruz.

He’s an Injury Prone Player

The injury gods ravage footballers of their own choosing, but Jan Vertonghen is one of their more regular customers. He was tipped for great things in the start of the 2007-08 campaign, but the presence of Thomas Vermaelen and Johnny Heitenga didn’t really help his cause.

However, Vertonghen suffered an injury that sidelined him for a considerable chunk of that season. He has also twinged his hamstring a couple of times, and suffered setbacks a few years ago after aggravating his hamstring again.

He has been in optimal health recently, though. Maybe his injury problems are now behind him.

Time will tell.

He Has Some Potent Venom on His Left Foot

Jan Vertonghen has notched up 213 appearances for Ajax so far and he has 27 goals to his name. While some have come from headers as expected from a center-back, Ventonghen can release a surface-to-goal missile from his left boot.

Down the years, many left-footed defenders have been renowned for shooting pile-drivers from their favored left boot, and the best was Roberto Carlos.

Having a fierce shot as a center-back can be a great asset because there will be times when he may waltz forward and find some space on the edge of the area. Arsenal’s goal-scoring maiden Paul Robinson can tell you what Thomas Vermaelen did to him in the 6-2 rout.

I haven’t even written about Daniel Agger.

He Wants to Join Arsenal

This is the best thing you need to know about Jan Vertonghen. He wants to join Arsenal Football Club.

Many skeptics believe that he may not want to play “second fiddle” to Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, but Arsenal needs a player like Vertonghen to bring out the best in these incumbent defenders.

Besides, Vertonghen is a better full-back than Kieran Gibbs and Andre Santos. He’ll be a valuable asset to the club, and one for the future because he’s only 24.

Arsene Wenger knows best.

Sayonara.

This article is also featured on Toni Okike's Arsenal blog, Gooner Daily.

Follow Toni on Twitter @enigma106