Vermaelen suffers injury setback

ARSENAL’S title hopes suffered a setback yesterday after confirmation centre-half Thomas Vermaelen will not return to action until the new year as he continues to recover from an achilles problem.

The Belgium international has not played since picking up the injury during his country’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Turkey in September.

Manager Arsene Wenger had expected to have the 25-year-old back within the next week of suffering the injury, but his three-month wait will now extend to at least four as Sebastien Squillaci continues to deputise.