Thomas Vermaelen and a Reflection on the Arsenal Captaincy

With Robin van Persie's move to Manchester United expected to be finalized Thursday after the player undergoes a physical examination—there's also matters to be hashed out with United CEO David Gill, according to Sir Alex Ferguson—Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger must once again decide upon a team captain.

The captaincy has seemed in flux ever since Patrick Vieira left Highbury for Juventus following the 2004-05 season. The presence Vieira exacted over matches couldn't be discounted, and there's little wonder that he was the figurehead for that unforgettable Invincibles side.

Whether it was heading off Roy Keane in a pregame tunnel or busting up an altercation on the pitch, the message Vieira sent was clear. Mess with my mates, I mess with you.

That he was such a spectacular talent in midfield only enhanced his presence.

Since the former No. 4's departure, however, Arsenal have seen Thierry Henry, William Gallas, Cesc Fabregas and van Persie don the armband. (Manuel Almunia and some other folks had a turn now and then, too.)

Supremely talented players all, but each seemed more comfortable leading by an exemplary manner rather than a vocal one.

Henry was known to have grown frustrated during his final two seasons at the club over the dwindling reserves of talent around him and wasn't great at picking his teammates up when they made mistakes.

Gallas was a terrific defender and proved to be a keen bit of business by Wenger after the Ashley Cole-to-Chelsea transfer, but his petulant outburst at St. Andrews in 2008 will go down as one of the more bizarre and frankly condemning moments in recent Arsenal history.

When he publicly criticized his teammates following a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in 2008, however, the writing was well and truly on the wall. That was not only character unbecoming of a leader—it was grounds for banishment to the nether regions of the squad. That simply isn't done in football.

Many believed that Fabregas was given the armband as a show of faith from Wenger—he was just 21 when Wenger finally tipped him for the position in November 2008—and it must be said that the Catalan seemed a good fit.

He was the most talented player within the squad—not to mention one of the longest-tenured when it came to first-team football.

But Fabregas was never a vocal leader or an imposing presence. He etched his name into club lore with some of his superlative achievements—his substitute's turn against Aston Villa on Dec. 28, 2009, will forever live on as one of the foremost throat-clenching moments I've ever witnessed—but continued to preside over a squad that was incapable of vaulting that last mental hurdle toward silverware.

How much of that can be attributed to Fabregas is a matter of conjecture, since it must be noted that he never had the opportunity to welcome additions of the international register we've seen this summer.

And finally, RVP.

Wenger wasted little time in granting him the armband after Fabregas departed last summer, possibly as a show of faith/enticement to stay on past the end of his contract, which was set to expire in 2013.

The gamble didn't work—at least not past this season. If van Persie's production is any indicator, we've rarely seen a captain lead more fully by example. But finalizing a move to a hated rival—one Arsenal hope to catch this season—casts a pall (and that's putting it lightly) upon his "legacy."

So Whom To Pick Next?

The obvious choice, which should be revealed before the Sunderland match, is central defender Thomas Vermaelen.

According to northbanklower, an Arsenal season-ticket holder and a terrific source on all things club-related, Mikel Arteta is "in the running" for the captaincy, but Vermaelen remains the clear choice.

That is as it should be, at least from this perspective.

Any trust-shorn Gunners fan will cast a wary glance at any future show of support to the club (thank you, RVP), but when Vermaelen came out in June and said he was ready to commit to Arsenal "forever," it held significant weight.

Since joining from Ajax in 2009, few players have been as important to Arsenal's success as Vermaelen, and few are as dedicated toward leading on the pitch.

That he is affectionately known at "The Verminator" should tell you something about his mental fortitude as well.

While it's always difficult to gauge just how formidable a presence one will be when granted the captaincy—will it effect a change in Vermaelen's demeanor?—it must be said that few players are more deserving than the Belgian.

And few players seem better tailored toward entering the pantheon of legends who have worn the armband. Particularly in light of how grueling these past seasons have been.

"I think people think that if things are going difficult it is going to be better at another club," Vermaelen told the club's official website last November, after putting pen to paper on a new long-term deal.

"For me if it's not going as you wanted at the beginning it doesn't mean you have to quit. It's always easy to quit and go somewhere else. I feel there is some belief in this team."

That statement echoed far more resoundingly than a simple proclamation of loyalty. In citing his desire to give back to the club, Vermaelen showed a gravitas rarely seen in footballers.

"I think people think that if things are going difficult, it is going to be better at another club."

Hardly a pot-shot at Gunners who have left in recent seasons for, say, Barcelona or Manchester City (cough, cough), but a superb philosophical understanding.

In seeing Arsenal through the rough patches, rather than ducking out before the end, Vermaelen perhaps gave the most convincing reason for why he should be granted the captaincy.

More power to Wenger if he grants it to him.