Arsenal new boy Thomas Vermaelen says he can shine for the club

Arsenal new-boy Thomas Vermaelen insists he will defy the critics who believe he is too small to cope with the Premier League.

The defender, 23, signed from Ajax, will play regularly as Kolo Toure looks set to sign for Manchester City, despite playing for the Gunners in a 5-0 victory over Hungarian side Szombathelyi last night.

Gunners legend Tony Adams criticised Vermaelen as not having the height and stature to cope with English football's top flight. But the 6ft centreback insists that, like World Cup-winning Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, who is much the same size, he can more than compensate.

He said: "I'm not so tall, I know. So you have to be good at reading the game.

"But I think my heading game is good. I have a good jump and that's positive if you are a centre-back. On the field its very important to be smart and thinking all the time.

"I will always give 100percent whether in games or training. In terms of attributes, I think I am decent in the air and technically, and I always want to battle on the pitch."

While Arsenal's young Gunners may need leadership on the pitch, Vermaelen's authority at his former club was such that boss Marco van Basten handed him the captain's armband at 22.

"I don't know what that says really," he told Arsenal's official magazine. "I don't go round pretending to be a leader or anything, but if the coach thinks I'm good to be captain then its okay."

Eduardo and Nicklas Bendtner scored twice in Arsenal's victory last night, with Robin van Persie adding a penalty.