Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen faces lengthy spell on sidelines

Crocked: Vermaelen faces a lengthy lay-offArsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed Thomas Vermaelen will not return to action until the middle of November. 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. But Wenger, speaking to Arsenal TV Online, confirmed the Belgium international faces a longer spell on the sidelines.'Vermaelen will still need two or three weeks,' the Arsenal boss said. '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. '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.'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.  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

Source: Daily_Mail