Not sure why people aren’t giving Vermaelen enough credit. When he was fit, which wasn’t that often during the end of his Arsenal career, he was a top CB. He did complete a move to Barcelona eventually, but they wanted him way before his actual move there because he was so versatile.

I wouldn’t line him up ahead of Sabila or Koscielny, but I would definitely have him in the bench along with Mertesacker.