Arsenal Latest Including Thomas Vermaelen And Wenger’s PSG Links

Thomas Vermaelen has at-last got some space to breathe with Arsene Wenger confirming today that the Belgian defender will be his captain for this season also, though there are doubts over whether he will be fit for the beginning of the season and his ability to force himself into the starting eleven.

Vermaelen was brought to Emirates by Wenger in 2009-10 season from Ajax Amsterdam and till the end of last season he has appeared 129 times for the Gunners in all forms of tournaments.

Much to his bummer, he struggled with a stress fracture to his back towards the end of last season and since then has aggravated the problem, meaning that Wenger has had to leave him out for the pre season tour of the club.

Though Wenger is keen to pen Swansea’s Ashley Williams, he assured that Vermaelen would get his chance in the World Cup preceding season, which is indispensable for any national team player.

“It depends,” Wenger said. “I cannot stick with him now because I think he will miss the start of the season. But certainly, he will still be the club captain. He had a back problem. He came in with it and he couldn’t practice until now. He’s out for how long we don’t know. There is nothing behind that at all. There is no bad feeling because he didn’t play at the end of the season. It’s just an unfortunate injury.”

With so much talk about his team on going, Wenger had also something to tell about himself regarding his move to Paris Saint German. With their previous manager Carlo Ancelotti now gone to Real Madrid, it was clear as daylight that they made Laurent Blanc as a temporary arrangement before finally moving for Wenger. He assured all the fans that his heart still beats for them and nothing can be more exuberant than coaching at the Emirates.

“I am committed to staying longer at this club,” the 63-year-old told reporters in Indonesia, at the start of the club’s pre-season Asia tour. “I’ve already had a chat with Ivan. It went very well, not a problem.”

“The link with PSG is there because I’m French and I know the owners, but if that was the case then I would be there already. My heart is with Arsenal. I’m not at PSG because my heart is with Arsenal.”