Jan Vertonghen: I snubbed Arsenal for Spurs

Jan Vertonghen claims he opted to join Tottenham Hotspur over Arsenal as Arsene Wenger wanted to play him in midfield.

North London's finest both expressed an interest in the Belgium international's services over the summer, leaving him with a choice between White Hart Lane or the Emirates.

Vertonghen eventually decided to sign for Spurs, with their project and plans for him on a personal level appealing to him more than the package pieced together by the Gunners.

"(Arsenal's interest) was concrete, but they wanted me to be a controller in the midfield, an Emmanuel Petit-type," he told NUsport.

"I'm not afraid of competition, but the overall picture of Spurs appealed to me more."

Vertonghen has found himself played out of position at Tottenham, with injuries forcing him to fill in at left-back, but the return of Benoit Assou-Ekotto should allow him to focus on challenging for a centre-half berth.

He added: "Ultimately, I just came to play at centre-back.

"Gareth Bale had to play left-back, but it did not work so he pushed forward and I moved to full-back.

"I see myself as a centre-back. I'm not agile enough to play against players like Nani and (Raheem) Sterling."

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has said any further additions to his squad in January must subscribe to his and Tottenham's attacking philosophy.

Speaking in a question and answer session on Twitter, the Portuguese said: "The players we are trying to bring in and have here also embrace that philosophy which we want to carry into the future.

"(Being at Spurs) is great because of the philosophy the club want to implement, what I think about football and the way we should play.

"I think we should have a go, play well and be open."

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Source: SkySports