Arsenal defender Vermaelen says good start key to EPL campaign

Vermaelen, though, insists the Gunners are wiser for the experience. "You have to look at all games which we lost, and each one had its own story," Vermaelen told Arsenal TV Online.

"In football, it is really difficult to perform at a high level in every game ufffd and that is what we have to do every year.

"We are one year older now, more experienced.

"For myself, as an individual, I have learned a lot last year and I hope I can improve.

"I feel the same pressure as I did last year, that is to be as good for the team as I can, to perform the best I can and to win some things.

"The difference now is that everything is not new to me anymore, but sometimes the second season is more difficult than the first."

Despite all of the summer speculation surrounding the future of their captain as Arsenal successfully fended off Barcelona, the Gunners enjoyed a decent pre-season build-up which included victory in their Emirates Cup tournament.

Vermaelen, who settled straight into the team after his ufffd10million arrival from Ajax last summer, maintains the players cannot wait for the action to start again.

"We are all very positive and have had a good pre-season," said the 24-year-old, who was away in Finland with the Belgian national team this week.

"We have trained hard, are motivated and are ready for the first game against Liverpool."

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