The Gunners captain has struggled for game time this
season, with just three Premier League starts to his name, but his fellow
defender insists the skipper's impact is vast.
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has praised club captain
Thomas Vermaelen despite the Belgian's lack of game time this season.
The latter has started just three Premier League matches
in the current campaign, with the former and France international Laurent
Koscielny currently Arsene Wenger's first-choice pairing at the heart of
defence.
Vermaelen has reportedly shown an excellent attitude in
training as he patiently waits for his chance, and Mertesacker has hailed his
contribution off the pitch.
"Laurent, Thomas and myself I think we push each
other to good form," the German told Arsenal Magazine.
"At the moment, it is linked to me and Laurent, but
I have to say that Thomas is a role model for everyone here.
"Not just because he is the skipper, but in the way
he communicates, handles his situation when he's not playing.
"People always speak about those who are in the
team, but you have to mention the players who are not involved in the starting
XI, but who have the right influence on the rest of the team."
Mertesacker stated that the trio are all comfortable
playing alongside each other for Wenger's table-toppers.
"We are good centre-backs," he added. "It
takes some time to get used to each other on the pitch, and feel comfortable
with the situation on the pitch.
"At the moment we know each other well, and how we
behave on the pitch. We know how to cover each other, we know how our partner
will handle the key moments."
Culled from Goal
