Vermaelen Signing A Signal of Intent

So it's finally been officially announced over at Arsenal.com that we've signed Thomas Vermaelen, the centre back from Ajax who was also last season's captain in Amsterdam. I have to say, I'm thrilled with this signing; he is just the type of player we gooners have been saying for months and months that we need: a big strong centre half with great leadership abilities who can dominate in the penalty area and lead the defensive line. And more importantly, this signing is a big signal of intent from Arsene Wenger.

It's signals our intention to challenge for silverware next season. We needed to strengthen our defense to challenge for honours next year, and now we have done just that. If we stop leaking the goals, and with new players like Arshavin we continue to score boatloads of them, then we will truly be genuine title challengers.

It signals to the Arsenal supporters that Arsene Wenger has identified the weaknesses in the team and is looking to rectify them. Le Boss said at the close of the season that he would analyse the team and see what more we needed to challenge next season, and it looks like he has now done that and is underway looking for new signings.

Finally, it signals that the next few months could actually be an exciting time for we gooners. The last few transfer windows have been admittedly depressing. We haven't signed too many exciting players, and when we have, their arrivals have been offset by the departures of several other major players.

This summer we have seen Sanga, Clichy, and Fabregas all publicly resisted the advances of foreign clubs, and the only players who I can see possibly leaving are Gallas, Adebayor, or perhaps Senderos on a permanent basis. And to be honest, I don't think too many of us would shed a tear if any of them were to leave us.

So we've got only players we wouldn't particularly hate to see leave looking like they may depart us, and now we've signed exactly the type of player we've all wanted, with more perhaps on the way. This is an exciting time to be an Arsenal supporter. I personally can't wait to see what's coming next! Until next time,

Fab 4