Thomas Vermaelen set to solve Arsenal left-back crisis for three games

Thomas Vermaelen will be asked to solve Arsenal’s left-back crisis against Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa as Kieran Gibbs is 11 days away from a return to action.

Andre Santos has confirmed that he will be out for three weeks after twisting his ankle in Arsenal’s 3-1 Champions League defeat to Olympiakos on Tuesday night.

Gibbs, who has been out since mid-October, is building up his fitness after recovering from a hernia operation and Goal.com has learned that he has been pencilled in for a comeback on December 19 when Arsenal’s reserves host Chelsea.

With his two senior left-backs on the sidelines, Wenger’s two main options to fill in are vice-captain Vermaelen and rookie defender Ignasi Miquel.

Spaniard Miquel replaced Santos for the remaining 39 minutes at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium on Tuesday and played 80 minutes at left-back in the League Cup defeat to Manchester City last week. He also played there in the previous round against Bolton Wanderers.

However, it is understood that Wenger is reluctant to hand 19-year-old Miquel his first Premier League start against Everton at Emirates Stadium on Saturday and is likely to rejig his ever-changing back four by playing Vermaelen at left-back with Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker in the centre-half positions.

Wenger has mentioned Vermaelen as a left-back candidate on a few occasions this season but the Belgium international has only actually filled in there as a substitute despite being tried in the role on a few occasions in training. However, he has played at left-back for his country and his former club Ajax.

Should the 26-year-old adjust well to the position this weekend he could also stand in at left-back for the trip to Man City on December 18 and in the match at Villa three days later.

With Bacary Sagna a long-term absentee and his understudy Carl Jenkinson likely to be out for another week with a back injury, Johan Djourou is set to deputise once again at right-back.

This raises the prospect of Wenger fielding four centre-backs in defence against Everton and possibly longer depending on Jenkinson’s recovery.

Henry backs RVP to join Arsenal legends

Thierry Henry reckons “amazing” Robin van Persie is following in his footsteps to become an Arsenal legend.

He compared van Persie’s progression at the club to his own, from difficult beginnings to becoming the Gunners’ main man.

The New York-based French ace watches every Arsenal game he can and says his former team-mate – who has scored 30 goals in 31 Premier League games in 2011 – will get even better.

He believes only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi can be compared to van Persie and reckons his goalscoring ratio is “ridiculous.”

“What can I say about Robin? I saw him come in here and at the very beginning he wasn’t the easiest guy to deal with, like I wasn’t I guess,” said Henry. “But it’s amazing to see how he has improved.

"That tells you how intelligent a player he is. I’m just in admiration. Thank God he is playing for us and doing well.

“It’s nice to see a player improve. What van Persie is doing now, in terms of, not just goals, but ratio of goals, apart from Ronaldo and Messi it is ridiculous.

“He is doing something amazing. That also tells you how important it is for him to not get injured.

“He has never had a chance to have a full season since he has been here – he was always out for two or three months. For the first time he can go on a roll now and you can see the difference.”

Henry was deeply moved by Arsenal creating a statue of him to recognise his legendary status at the club. But he was typically modest as he stressed the importance of his team-mates’ roles.

But he admitted it was hard to choose which other players should have a statue made of them and was proud at being chosen after playing in illustrious company. “It’s difficult to compare different eras,” he said. “I can only feel honoured and privileged that I was chosen.

“I want to insist how important it was for me to play with some great players. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to play there.

“When you look at the likes of the back four: Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole – I am going to name the whole squad – Patrick Vieira, Sylvain Wiltord, who was underrated at the time because he was an amazing player. Robert Pires as well.

“Without them I wouldn’t have been able to do what I did – we went through a season unbeaten. Without your team you are nothing. It would not have been possible without them so I want to thank them too.”

His progression from misfit at Juventus to Arsenal record goalscorer has made him a folk hero and, despite leaving for Barcelona and now playing for New York Red Bulls in the MLS, he insists he will always be a fan.

It was difficult for him to watch at the start of the season as Arsenal struggled but he is convinced they are back onto great things again now.

But Henry, 34, also ruled out ever returning to Arsenal to play – even on loan – and refused to think about one day managing the club with his former boss and mentor, Arsene Wenger, sat alongside.

“Every time I can I always watch Arsenal,” said Henry. “It was hard at the beginning of the season but now they are on the right track and they have to keep on going.

“But I’m in pain when Arsenal lose, I can’t take it well. I didn’t like it when I was a player and it’s worse now – at least when you’re a player you can do something about it. I always watch them.

“One day I might think about management, but when is he (Wenger) going to stop? The manager is right here.

“I just came back here to stay in shape. Also you know how much I love London – I have my daughter here and I am always here in the off season. It’s perfect for me to be around the club.”

"Mertesacker will be a big success" - Wenger

Per Mertesacker has been “harshly” treated since his arrival at Arsenal.

That is the view of Arsene Wenger who will put his giant German centre-half up against Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates on Wednesday.

Mertesacker dropped a clanger at Carrow Road on Saturday as he failed to clear the ball which allowed Steve Morison to put Norwich in front.

Wenger dished out a half time rollicking to the 6ft 7in Mertesacker, but insists he will stick with him against Dortmund despite his difficult adaptation to English football.

The 27-year-old, who has won 79 caps, may feel more at home against German opposition, but he clearly has the full backing of his manager regardless.

Wenger, who signed Mertesacker for £10million just before the transfer window shut in August, said: “I am very happy with Per.

“The criticism in the papers has been very harsh, but when you play for a big team, you have to accept that.

"I also think it will take him some time. He came here not completely fit. Now he is getting stronger and stronger.

"I felt on Saturday he had not recovered from the Holland game [in midweek] and looked tired. But he has recovered now and will play against Dortmund.

“Of course he is under pressure and scrutiny. But you don’t feel sorry for a situation like that because that’s what happens at a big club.”

Wenger even believes that Mertesacker may struggle to persuade some fans of his quality because they have already made up their minds because of his size.

The Arsenal manager, who is 6ft 4in, used to have a rule that he would not sign a player who was taller than him, but broke that rule to buy Mertesacker from Werder Bremen.

Mertesacker has faced questions about his pace and certainly does not look the most elegant of centre-halves, and Wenger wants him to learn not to get caught out as he did at Carrow Road.

“In England, when you’re in front of the striker you have not won the battle," said the Frenchman. "In many countries you have. But they (strikers) fight till the last second here.

“People look at his size. At the moment you say our defenders are too tall, because you’re not used to it. Because of his size I think people have a preconception of him.

“But he is intelligent and he will adapt quickly. He is very responsible as well, he didn’t complain about the free-kick because he was pulled down. He just said he should have cleared it earlier. So he is very responsible.”

Mertesacker started at the weekend, but faces a fight for his place because Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen are doing their best to establish themselves as the first choice pair.

They also have a bit more pace and agility, which will come in handy when dealing with smaller opponents such as Dortmund’s Mario Gotze.

Arsenal were held at the Westfalen Stadion in September when a last-gasp equaliser robbed Robin van Persie of match-winner honours.

But in many ways that was a game, away and against a big European side, which helped breed confidence in Wenger’s squad after their awful start to the season.

Now Arsenal need a victory to secure automatic qualification to the Champions League's knockout stages.

After being held 0-0 by Marseille in their last group game at the Emirates, Wenger admits they will treat the match as a cup tie.

He will field his strongest line-up, not rest any of his big guns and go all out for victory.

That will also allow him to stand a few players down for the long trip to Athens for the group finale against Olympiacos next month - a fixture already surrounded by fears of a public-services strike that could mean their trip is extended to two nights.

Wenger said of the Dortmund match: “It is a cup tie, because we have an opportunity in one game to qualify.

“We have come from far. You could see the game at Chelsea has helped the team to improve. Our consistency has helped the team improve.

"Qualifying from the Champions League group will give us a lift again.

“Consistency for us is vital. We have a good record at home in the Champions League and we want to continue that.

“Both teams have improved since we last played. We have grown, they have grown. They had a difficult start, we had a difficult start and we have both picked up since.

“They were a good team already in Dortmund, but we feel strong enough to finish the job.

“I think we have done very well defensively. We got two clean sheets in the last two games against Marseille, which is a fantastic achievement because they are a quality side.

“That gives us a lot of confidence going into the game against Dortmund.”

Dortmund tell Arsenal : Hands off Gotze

Arsenal fans will get their first glimpse of German wunderkind Mario Gotze - but Borussia Dortmund have warned they shouldn't get used to him.

The 19-year-old is at the top of Arsene Wenger's wish-list, while Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are also in the hunt for the forward.

German international Gotze impressed in the clubs' first meeting of the Champions League group phase in September, and the £30m-rated teenager will now get his chance to shine at the Emirates as the clubs clash again.

But Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp insisted that Gotze will not be affected by the transfer tug-of-war - and confirmed he does not want to sell him in January.

"Nothing can happen in January. It's not a problem. Arsenal is only about 10 per cent of what is written in Germany, so it's not a problem," said Klopp.

"Apparently, Bayern Munich are interested in him. He scored one against Bayern Munich and I will be happy if he wins against Arsenal.

"Nobody buys a player from Borussia Dortmund just like that. Not even Arsenal.

"Luckily, his focus is not an issue. He's very relaxed about that."

Gotze was outstanding in Dortmund's away win over Bayern at the weekend and has promised that his team will go for all-out attack at the Emirates.

Arsenal need to win the match to secure qualification to the knock-out stage, but Gotze and Klopp have admitted it's also win or bust for Dortmund.

"This match comes at a good time for us after the win in Munich. We need to win and that's our objective," said Gotze.

"I've heard the rumours from the Premier League, but I never let that affect me. I'm only focused on Dortmund, now more than ever.

"We won't play a conservative system, that would be a mistake. We want to win and to do that we need to play an offensive game."

Klopp, meanwhile, added that it would be "fatal" for his side just to concentrate on Arsenal's in-form Dutch striker Robin van Persie.

"We won't have four men on Robin," he said. "The easiest way is that he doesn't get good balls and we have measures for that.

"It would be fatal to focus only on Van Persie. We have to take care of Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey - you get punished if you let them go. Song too.

"We have to focus on what we do - that will mean Arsenal cannot play their game. That is how we would like it."

Cesc: England need Wilshere for Euro 2012 success

Cesc Fabregas has taken a swipe at ­Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood – and claimed England desperately need his pal Jack Wilshere back for the Euros.

Hill-Wood claimed Fabregas would struggle to get into the Barcelona first team but he has proved him wrong by becoming a regular at the Nou Camp.

The former Arsenal captain was also damning about England’s negative tactics and said they will rely heavily on Wilshere returning to fitness to stand a chance next summer.

Fabregas, 24, also claimed he wants another ex-team-mate, Robin van Persie, to stay at Arsenal because he’s desperate to see his old club do well.

“Some people thought I wouldn’t get in the team [at Barca],” said Fabregas. “Maybe they didn’t believe in me too much. I speak to the boys at Arsenal.

“Arsenal gave me everything and I will never forget that. It will always be a special club. The fans have always been amazing to me. I only have amazing words to say about them.

“It was a shame they started so badly but now they are back to winning ways and doing well.”

Fabregas also believes next summer will bring the biggest decision of van Persie’s career and, while he says the Dutch striker is world class, he believes he could stay at the Emirates.

“He is having an amazing season. Hopefully he’ll be fit for the whole season. Unfortunately when I was there, he never enjoyed a whole season and it was one of the things I regret a little bit,” said Fabregas.

“He is a key player. I hope he can keep going like that. I don’t know if they will keep him. It is his decision.

“At his age, if he wants to move it will be his last chance and if he wants to stay he will stay and retire at Arsenal. We will see what he decides but he’s been very loyal to Arsenal for a few years.

“He is a key player, the fans love him. For me, he is the role model of Arsenal, the star player and they cannot afford to lose him. He would fit in anywhere but I’m an Arsenal fan and I want him to stay at Arsenal.”

Fabregas is a huge fan of Wilshere and believes the Arsenal youngster will make all the difference for England when he returns from injury.

He believes the absence of Wilshere and Wayne Rooney was the reason England sat so deep against Spain and ended up frustrating the world champions.

“Normally England don’t play like that when Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere are available,” said Fabregas. “But unfortunately they were without a few players and maybe it was an obligation to play like that.

“Overall, England are a very solid team and if they have Jack back it will make a massive difference. He has the talent to make things happen.

“We saw two very different styles of teams. One defensive and one trying to play football and trying to score goals.

“In the end the one trying to score goals didn’t and the one not trying did. So it was a very weird game.

“We are getting used to this kind of game but that’s not an excuse. We knew the only way they could score was from a set-piece and we conceded a bad free-kick and they scored.

“You cannot say it doesn’t matter. Spain are the world and European champions and we always want to win but we definitely prefer to lose this than in an important game.

“We lost friendly games to Argentina, Portugal and Italy and still won the World Cup.”

Fabregas praised Scott Parker’s performance but was disparaging about Fabio Capello’s approach to the friendly and added: “It’s difficult to say who played well for England. They were defending the whole game.

“Scott Parker runs a lot and has very good discipline. With the ball he was quite good when he was involved.

“But they had 10 men behind the ball and that makes it much more solid and compact. We will see more when they play offensive football.”

Squillaci targeted for loan move

West Ham have had a move to sign Arsenal misfit Sebastien Squillaci on loan knocked back.

The Gunners are ready to listen to offers for the 31-year-old French defender, but it is left loaning him out now could jeopardise a permanent move to another club in January.

Squillaci has already appeared for Arsenal in the Carling Cup this season, and players can only turn out for three clubs in a single campaign with special dispensation - which is usually only granted for young players or those involved in contract disputes.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce, who signed Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia on loan earlier this season, is after emergency cover in defence as Hammers pursue an instant return to the Premier League.

A permanent deal for Squillaci with the east London side is thought to be unlikely.

Barca target Alex Song

Alex Song is a target for ­Barcelona.

The 24 year old Arsenal midfield player is seen as the ideal replacement for Mali international Seydou Keita who plans to quit the Camp Nou next June.

Song has impressed ­Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger this season and ­Arsenal have already made one attempt to secure the Cameroon international on a longer deal.

There are still more than three years to run on his current contract but Wenger views Song as a major asset as his versatility has seen him play him in both ­central defence and midfield.

Arsenal’s initial offer was rejected, but Wenger is determined and is certain to come back in an attempt to keep Song for another four years at least.

If Song refuses the offer Barcelona are ready to swoop next summer.

They are ready to pay more than £15million and manager Pep Guardiola will first talk to former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas, "who moved to Barcelona from Arsenal for £35m in the summer, rates his ex-team-mate highly so that will tempt Guardiola."

Song is reluctant to uproot his family from London, but might well be tempted by the once-in-a-lifetime chance to play for the team currently rated the best in world football.

Joey Barton hits out at Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood to reiterate claims that the Gunners tried to sign him

QPR midfielder Joey Barton has insisted that Arsenal attempted to sign him in the summer, after seeing his claims dismissed by Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood.


Barton had previously stated that a clash with Gervinho in the first game of the season may have cost him a move to Arsenal upon leaving Newcastle United at the end of the transfer window.

He told The Sunday Mirror: "Peter Hill-Wood said they never had any serious interest in me, I just don't understand. The dialogue between him and his coaching staff has broken down so severely that he doesn't know what's going on at his football club.

"I don't know [why Hill-Wood said that]. Fair enough if I was claiming to sign for Real Madrid or Barcelona or Manchester City or Manchester United, but I don't think it's that big of a shout to say Arsenal were after me because it's definitely a club in - what shall I say? - transition."

The former Manchester City man also went on to express his shock at Arsenal's decline and poor current form.

The Gunners sit in 15th place in the Premier League following a poor start to the season and have struggled through their Champions League ties.

Barton continued: "Financially, they have put themselves in a great position but I don't know what's happening there.

"I don't understand. You look at Arsenal and you think, 'Well, they obviously have an abundance of money'. Their stadium is almost paid for. I would say, financially, they are the most well-run club in the league, barring Manchester City.

"I watched them the other day, it's a very different side from that great team they had with Petit and Vieira. If I was an Arsenal fan... well.

"It's nothing to do with me because it's not my football club but, even so, I like to see those great English sides do well. I remember watching the Champions League and Arsenal against Olympiakos at home was a shoo-in, four or five-nil win for Arsenal, but they made hard work of it. But this is the game we're in."

Bacary Sagna set to miss next three months after Arsenal confirm full-back sustained fractured fibula

Arsenal have confirmed that Bacary Sagna has sustained a fractured fibula after he fell awkwardly during the Gunners' 2-1 defeat to Tottenham, and suggest that the full-back will be out for around three months.


Sagna jumped for the ball with Spurs defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto although landed awkwardly and immediately signalled that he wanted to be taken off, before he was later taken to hospital, and a club statement has revealed that a fracture has been sustained.

"The Club can confirm that Bacary Sagna sustained a fracture to the fibula in his right leg during the match against Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon," the statement on the club's official website read.

"Further detailed investigations and assessments will take place on Monday, during which time Bacary will see ankle specialists and the Arsenal medical team regarding the further management of his injury.

"It is expected that Bacary will be out for approximately three months and a surgical procedure cannot be ruled out at this stage.

"Everyone at the Club wishes Bacary a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him playing again as soon as possible."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had previously admitted he was "very worried" about the injury.

He told the club's official website: "We are very worried about his injury. He is in hospital at the moment and it is too early to say but the first signs do not look good at all.

"It is the fibula in the ankle that has to be checked, that is what I have been told. We will know tonight. I think he was pushed quite hard by Assou-Ekotto and I'm not sure what happened to him.

"He might have landed the wrong way, I don't know. I will have to see it again. Straight away he wanted to be substituted."

Yossi Benayoun sidelined for a week with injury

Arsenal midfielder Yossi Benayoun is set to be out of action for a week, following a side strain sustained in his side’s 3-1 League Cup victory over Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday.




The Israeli midfielder grabbed his first goal for the club following his loan move from Chelsea, as they progressed to the fourth round of the tournament despite initially going a goal down to the League Two side.


Benayoun has revealed, however, that he picked up a side strain during the game, and will now be sidelined for up to seven days, meaning he will miss the clash against Bolton and potentially the Champions League tie against Olympiakos at the Emirates.

Speaking via social networking site Twitter, the former Liverpool and West Ham United man said: "Very disappointed as I have a strain and will be out for a week or so."

Laurent Koscielny glad to have Alex Song back in midfield

Laurent Koscielny has lauded team-mate Alex Song for his midfield display against Borussia Dortmund.


The Gunners drew 1-1 with the German champions, and Koscielny has heaped praise on the Cameroonian midfielder for a dominant display in Dortmund.

Koscielny told the club’s official website: “I think we defended very well - all the team defends together.

“It's very important to have Alex near the centre-backs because he stops the opportunities coming to the other team. It's good for us.

“It was a hard game, Dortmund played very well.

“We defended well, but to concede a goal two minutes before the end was difficult for us.

“We didn't lose, which was good. We have a game at home, and it is important to win that.”

Koscielny also spoke of the new confidence surrounding the London club, and a belief that they can capitalise on this good run of form in their next game in the Premier League against Blackburn Rovers.

He added: “We are in a good place now and we want to go and win at Blackburn.”

Song had been suspended for the last three league games after stamping on Joey Barton in Arsenal’s opening fixture against Newcastle United.