CONFIRMED: Vermaelen moves to Barça

[Git]

Thomas Vermaelen has informed Arsene Wenger of his desire to leave Arsenal this summer, according to a report in Belgian publication La Dernière Heure.

Claiming to have spoken to the Belgian international’s representatives, Sports Entertainment Group, the newspaper says that Manchester United made a tentative approach for the centre-back in January but that the player’s current injury problems and a lack of cover at the Emirates scuppered any possibility of a move.

As has been well-documented Vermaelen has cut a frustrated figure this season spending most of the last twelve months on the bench as back up to Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

The 28-year-old has previously been linked to Napoli and Zenit St Petersburg and will likely have a number of suitors come the summer especially if he gets minutes in the World Cup.

Given Bacary Sagna, Wenger’s de facto fourth choice centre-back, is stalling on a new deal it looks as though defensive reinforcements will be top of the list this summer for the Gunners.

http://news.arseblog.com/2014/02/report ... is-summer/

[Arsenal Tone]

Disappointing but understandable. I just hope he's adequately replaced!

[Massa]

Disappointing but understandable. I just hope he's adequately replaced!

[Arsenal~Fanatic]

Sagna, Fabianski and now Vermaelen. Add to that a top quality striker and a DM. It is going to be one busy summer.

[Angelito]

Disappointing but understandable. I just hope he's adequately replaced!

+1

Sagna, Fabianski and now Vermaelen. Add to that a top quality striker and a DM. It is going to be one busy summer.

Yep! Busy letting go of our players and not replacing them.

[ThereIsBearCüm]

Sooooo, we're going to have to be really f***ing buys in the summer. 2 GKs, 1 (possibly 2) centerbacks, a right back, a holding midfielder and a striker. How many of those do you think Wenger will actually bring decent quality in for?

[Callum]

I'll be sad to see Vermaelen go but I can understand why he'd want to seek pastures new. I think it's important we buy a young player who won't mind playing second fiddle to Mertesacker and Koscielny but has the potential to go on to become a regular first-teamer for us.

[Schlandi]

Sagna, Fabianski and now Vermaelen. Add to that a top quality striker and a DM. It is going to be one busy summer.

I'm quiet sure you can also add Podolski to that list.

[Angelito]

Sooooo, we're going to have to be really f***ing buys in the summer. 2 GKs, 1 (possibly 2) centerbacks, a right back, a holding midfielder and a striker. How many of those do you think Wenger will actually bring decent quality in for?

But, but, but... Wenger said last summer that it's never advisable to bring more than 2 or 3 players in because it tends to disrupt the balance of the team.

What we need: 2 CBs, a RB, a back-up GK, a DM, a winger (Poldi is off in the summer), and a striker.

Let's see:

- Flamini can play RB. No need to buy RB because he's a good enough back up for BEAST Carl.
- Flamini can play CB. No need to get a back up CB as well.
- Nobody can play GK, so yes, we'll get a back up GK.
- Flamini and Arteta can play DM. Plus, LE COQ is back.
- Giroud, Sanogo, Walcott can all play as strikers so... Also, everybody at Arsenal can play as a CF. That's not me saying it. Wenger said so...

That means, in the summer, we will get a GK. We will also get somebody like Draxler, and the Board will say, "See, we can spend money too!" While we still don't spend on that striker and DM, or replace the departed players!

[Trina]

What's annoying is come the summer all we will do is replace who's gone and still not get the extra players we need.

Sent from my ST25i using Tapatalk 2

[ivan itchybum]

Not good enough to start but too good to be left out all the time. Disappointing if he does go but you can't blame him.

[S&W the no1Fan]

What's annoying is come the summer all we will do is replace who's gone and still not get the extra players we need.

Sent from my ST25i using Tapatalk 2

i sure hope this isnt the case

[Arsenal Tone]

If players like TV, BS and maybe MA/LP are likely to be off anyway then it would be the perfect summer for a new manager to come in and stamp his authority on the squad.

[S&W the no1Fan]

If players like TV, BS and maybe MA/LP are likely to be off anyway then it would be the perfect summer for a new manager to come in and stamp his authority on the squad.

ok...

[Arsenal Tone]

If players like TV, BS and maybe MA/LP are likely to be off anyway then it would be the perfect summer for a new manager to come in and stamp his authority on the squad.

ok...