Arsenal legend George Graham is a big fan of Thomas Vermaelen.

Graham has been ­impressed by the Belgium defender.

"He's a real defender, class," Graham told the Sunday Mirror. "He has been a great signing. But there seems to be a lack of cohesion among the defenders.

"Maybe it is time for the ­philosophy of the club to change and allow ­Arsene to spend big.

"United have done it over the years. They wanted both Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney. They had to pay over the odds, but they got them."