Out for the season, Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen confessed it is not easy to sit out important games against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona.

The Belgium International has been sidelined since September after suffering an Achilles injury while on international duty but even during such a negative moment in his career, the centre-back learned to take some positive as he confessed that he learned a lot during the months he spent on the sidelines.

Admitting that one has a better view of a game when watching on television or is in the stands, the 25-year old revealed he was very tense when the Gunners played against Barcelona in Spain as he badly wanted them to qualify for the next round.

Looking forward to next season, the defender concluded by saying that he learned a lot by analysing the positioning of other defenders as it helped him to understand his weaknesses and to improve areas of the game he usually doesn’t work on.

On his injury, Vermaelen said:

I’ve learned a lot [while I've been out]. Mentally for sure, but I also had the time to work on some of my weaknesses. Things you do not have time for when you play a lot of games.

I saw Chelsea, Man United, Tottenham, Barcelona passing me by – top games for sure. And that’s frustrating: you want to be on the pitch. In the stands, especially against Barcelona, ​​you feel more tension than on the field.

I was quite nervous, I noticed, even during the return match I watched on TV. I wanted so badly that we went through.

But on the other hand, on television and in the stands you have a better view of the game. You can learn from the positioning of other defenders, while watching them. And that’s what I did.