Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Ajax Defender Jan Vertonghen Ideal Solution

Ajax’s Belgian centre back Jan Vertonghen has been widely reported as saying that he desires a move to the Emirates in the summer. His appearance in the stands, as Thomas Vermaelen’s guest, in the second leg of the Champions League against AC Milan, to which Vertonghen witnessed a magnificent comeback effort, has added further speculation that Arsenal is where he will end up.

He is a 6'2" powerhouse of a defender who frequently contributes to his team’s attack and scores many headed goals, as well as thunderbolt free kicks. He has a relentless attitude to win and puts 100% in every performance. The latter qualities will particularly interest Arsenal fans.

The acquisition of Vertonghen to the defensive ranks would dispel any notion of Arsenal being a weak team with defensive frailty and add unprecedented depth to the squad.

The assumption would be that Vertonghen would fit in the squad seamlessly, as Vermealen and he once played together for Ajax as the Dutch team’s first choice centre back pairing, as well as for their country. Moreover, his style as a tough tackler and tight presser make him well suited to the Premier League. He would need to adjust very quickly to the league to alleviate the pressure on Per Mertesacker, who has found it tough thus far.

Of course if Vertonghen were to make the switch to the Emirates, you would expect Wenger to make some sales given Arsenal have six centre backs already in Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou, Mertesacker, Sebastien Squillaci and Ignasi Miquel.  

An effective change in defence would be to replace Squillaci with Vertonghen and sell Djourou to make way for Kyle Bartley, currently on loan at Rangers, who is making excellent progress.

Squillaci has made no positive contribution ever since he joined the Emirates last season and it is bewildering how Wenger didn’t sell him last summer. He is a complete waste on the wage bill and the Frenchman is probably being paid twice as much as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Alex Song, who have both been excellent this season. That isn’t right at all.

Djourou has annoyed the Arsenal fans more than he has made them cheer. The Swiss international made a string of excellent performances in the new year last year, showing what he is capable of, but every other appearance around that has not been up to scratch. Wenger has given him more than an adequate amount of time to sort himself out.

Vertonghen’s addition would also be excellent cover for the inevitable injury crisis that is customary in a season at Arsenal, plus Miquel will only improve as the months go by and who knows what Bartley can bring to the squad when he returns.

A defender of Vertonghen’s stature is sorely needed at the back for Arsenal as there is too much reliance on incompetent cover in Djourou and Squillaci. Do you think the Belgian would solve Arsenal’s defensive issues?