Arsenal dealt blow over Vermaelen
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Bad luck. With Koscielny picking up reds everywhere, Squillaci reliable but not spectacular and Djourou looking a little short of standard, Vermaelen really needed to be back soon to steady the Arsenal defence.
Really dissapointed.
Squillaci has impressed recently, yes, but without Tommie, our defence looks shaky, which is something I thought vermaelen really helped to rid of somewhat last year.
Here's to hoping he can come back and do what he does best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd_OfngSWeM&feature=related
Squillaci has impressed recently, yes, but without Tommie, our defence looks shaky, which is something I thought vermaelen really helped to rid of somewhat last year.
Here's to hoping he can come back and do what he does best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd_OfngSWeM&feature=related
Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen has been ruled out until the new year with an Achilles tendon injury. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since picking up the problem while playing for Belgium in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Turkey on 7 September.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted there was "no logical explanation" for Vermaelen's prolonged absence, adding: "Vermaelen is in a [protective] boot.
"We want him back and I hope he will be back soon, but not before January."
When Vermaelen suffered the injury he was expected to be sidelined for only a week.
But his absence has now stretched to three months and, despite going top of the Premier League with Saturday's victory over Fulham, Arsenal have at times been exposed in central defence.
Laurent Koscielny, who joined from French club Lorient last summer in a deal reportedly worth £10m, has already been shown two red cards and four yellows.
He was forced off after 33 minutes against Fulham with concussion following a clash of heads with Sebastien Squillaci which lead to the visitors' equaliser.
Frenchman Squillaci was not expected to be a regular starter following his arrival from Sevilla but he has already made 18 appearances because of Vermaelen's injury.
Johan Djourou, who missed most of last season after knee surgery, is Arsenal's only other recognised centre-back.
"On the scan, his Achilles is clear," Wenger said of Vermaelen, a £10m signing from Ajax in 2009, in November.
"But as soon as he stays out for a while, it tightens up and he has pain. We don't know the source of his pain.
"I don't know where we go with Thomas time-wise but, at the moment, he cannot play."
:'( Hurry Back we need you !
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted there was "no logical explanation" for Vermaelen's prolonged absence, adding: "Vermaelen is in a [protective] boot.
"We want him back and I hope he will be back soon, but not before January."
When Vermaelen suffered the injury he was expected to be sidelined for only a week.
But his absence has now stretched to three months and, despite going top of the Premier League with Saturday's victory over Fulham, Arsenal have at times been exposed in central defence.
Laurent Koscielny, who joined from French club Lorient last summer in a deal reportedly worth £10m, has already been shown two red cards and four yellows.
He was forced off after 33 minutes against Fulham with concussion following a clash of heads with Sebastien Squillaci which lead to the visitors' equaliser.
Frenchman Squillaci was not expected to be a regular starter following his arrival from Sevilla but he has already made 18 appearances because of Vermaelen's injury.
Johan Djourou, who missed most of last season after knee surgery, is Arsenal's only other recognised centre-back.
"On the scan, his Achilles is clear," Wenger said of Vermaelen, a £10m signing from Ajax in 2009, in November.
"But as soon as he stays out for a while, it tightens up and he has pain. We don't know the source of his pain.
"I don't know where we go with Thomas time-wise but, at the moment, he cannot play."
:'( Hurry Back we need you !