Twenty-four-year-old Belgian soccer star Thomas Vermaelen says he is a believer in Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger's vision that the club can win trophies by playing their version of the game.
Vermaelen says that he is also quite happy to adopt the role of "The Verminator" if that adds grit to the Gunners' guile and makes them real contenders again rather than perennial also-rans.
"I don't mind if people call me `The Verminator’, because if they think I can help toughen the team up when needed, good. I think I can do that," News of The World quoted Vermaelen, as saying.
"But the main reason I like playing for Arsenal is the vision of the boss. The way he wants us to play. I believe we can win trophies playing this way,” he said.
"What is the vision? The vision is basically for a young team who all share the same philosophy to play good football, to grow and eventually win a big trophy. I know there are many critics who say that playing a certain way then good things can't happen. But maybe they should just think for a while and look at how a team like Barcelona has grown and how they play,” he added.
The trophy drought is beginning to become a bit of monkey on Arsenal's back. The last league title they won was back in 2004, the year of the Invincibles.
The Anfield side last won the top-flight title in 1990, a year after Arsenal had ended their two-decades of virtual dominance with Michael Thomas's last gasp decider on the final night of the season.
Vermaelen argues that if Arsenal win at Liverpool today they could still be in the mix.
"I believe we can still go all the way in the Premier League but of course this game at Anfield is vital for that to happen," he added.
