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Thomas Vermaelen's Unforgettable Debut: Arsenal's 5-0 Crushing of Szombathelyi in Pre-Season Friendly, July 2009
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Thomas Vermaelen's Unforgettable Debut: Arsenal's 5-0 Crushing of Szombathelyi in Pre-Season Friendly, July 2009
Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal). Szombathelyi 0:5 Arsenal, pre season friendly, Hungary, 27/7/2009. Credit: Stuart MacFarlane / Arsenal Football Club
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In the sweltering heat of a Hungarian summer's evening on July 27, 2009, Arsenal Football Club took to the pitch in a pre-season friendly against Szombathelyi NB I, with a new signing making his debut for the Gunners. Thomas Vermaelen, a Belgian international defender, had recently joined the North London giants from Ajax Amsterdam for a reported fee of £10 million. The Emirates Stadium faithful were eager to see their new defensive recruit in action, and they were not left disappointed. Vermaelen slotted seamlessly into the backline alongside William Gallas, with both players demonstrating their class and composure as Arsenal dominated possession from the outset. The opening goal came in the 22nd minute, with Andrey Arshavin weaving his way through the Szombathelyi defence before laying the ball off to Samir Nasri, who coolly finished past the onrushing goalkeeper. Vermaelen's presence was felt at both ends of the pitch, as he made several crucial interceptions and clearances to keep a clean sheet. The second half saw Arsenal continue their dominance, with Vermaelen leading by example at the heart of the defence. Theo Walcott added a second goal in the 53rd minute, before Nicklas Bendtner, Abou Diaby, and Eduardo all got on the scoresheet to complete a comprehensive 5-0 victory. Vermaelen's debut was a memorable one, as he showed why Arsenal had paid a significant transfer fee for his services. His calm and assured performance boded well for the upcoming season, and he quickly became a fan favourite among the Arsenal faithful. This photo captures the moment of celebration as Arsenal's players and coaching staff gather around their new defender, proud of their team's impressive display and excited for the future with Vermaelen at the heart of their defence.
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