One of the best players on the pitch on Tuesday night, Thomas Vermaelen is finally back after spending months on the sidelines with an injury.

Speaking after the goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium, the Belgium International started by saying that it was a hard game for Arsene Wenger’s men as Marseille showed that they are a good side with good football players and made life difficult for the Gunners who failed to take their chances in the final third, especially in the second half.

Asked about his partnership with Germany’s Per Mertesacker, the 25-year old described their game in the defensive department as “OK” after they successfully kept a clean sheet in their first game alongside each other.

With the draw, Arsenal kept the lead in Group F of Europe’s most prestigious competition with Olympique Marseille in second place, Borussia Dortmund in third place and Olympiakos last but still with a chance of qualifying for the next round.

After the game, the centre-back said:

Of course it was hard work today. I think they are a good side. They have some good football players on the pitch and we had to work hard to get this point.

I think, second half, we had moments when we dominated the game and unfortunately we couldn’t score.

[My partnership with Mertesacker?] I think it was OK. The most important thing was we didn’t concede a goal.

That is what we have to do, that is our job. It is good for the team that we had a clean sheet today.