Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen faces lengthy spell on sidelines
Crocked: Vermaelen faces a lengthy lay-off[LNB]Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed Thomas Vermaelen will not return to action until the middle of November. [LNB]The defender has been sidelined with an achilles tendon problem since the beginning of September, and the initial diagnosis was that it would be a matter of weeks rather than months. [LNB]But Wenger, speaking to Arsenal TV Online, confirmed the Belgium international faces a longer spell on the sidelines.[LNB]'Vermaelen will still need two or three weeks,' the Arsenal boss said. [LNB] 'His injury is not a long-term concern, but at the start we thought it was a question of days and now it is six weeks. [LNB]'You can't say it is not a concern at all. 'We are a bit concerned, but he has had a final treatment that we think could kill it.'[LNB]Bacary Sagna (thigh) will return to the squad for Sunday's Barclays Premier League showdown at Manchester City , and Laurent Koscielny (back) has an outside chance to be included, but goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (elbow) is still definitely out.[LNB] Vermaelen says he's not bothered about scoring goals for ArsenalGet serious over title charge! Vermaelen warns Arsenal there is no room for errorARSENAL FC
