Vermaelen: I didn't expect to be out this long

Arsenal's forgotten man Thomas Vermaelen says he is disappointed to have missed the entire season through injury, especially after initially believing he would only miss six weeks.

The Belgian centre-back was a revelation in his first season at the club, adapting quickly to Premier League life and earning a cult hero status as a solid defender with an eye for goal.

Sadly, the former Ajax man has only played three times for the Gunners this campaign, and although he is now making progress, he will not feature again until next season.

He said: "I can understand my manager when he says that my season is over - I have been out for seven months and I must fulfil a complete 'pre-season', so it's logical that he won't take risks.

"Time is ticking away. I must first get fit again, then gain rhythm. So I've still a long way to go. I can kick a ball as hard as possible but that's not my problem. I need to run without pain.

"After surgery, you soon become impatient. I'm a player they have to slow down - that's my problem. I felt a little pain but I had something in my head - 'I'll cope with it'. That wasn't too smart, you can't beat nature.

"After a few weeks, I personally indicated that I had to slow down. It didn't feel that comfortable, as it feels these days.

"I always thought I would be out for six weeks [after the surgery]. That was what I was told. So I never could anticipate this long absence. Maybe I would have preferred that I knew from the start."

User Comments

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea