Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen is frustrated with life on the bench at the Emirates Stadium. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has said as much. The Belgium defender has a World Cup to look forward to with his country come next summer, but knows he will simply be a squad player if he cannot get some regular football. Premier League rivals Vincent Kompany (Manchester City) and Jan Vertonghen (Spurs) could well be Marc Wilmots's first-choice duo in Brazil. Vermaelen also has Bayern Munich veteran Daniel van Buyten to contend with on the national roster. Having hinted at a January exit from Arsenal if he cannot force his way past current centre back pairing Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, Vermaelen has been linked with Inter Milan. Wenger may need to start planning for a future without the cultured defender then. Vermaelen is currently only one of three senior centre backs on the Gunners books His anticipated departure will mean there is absolutely no back-up should Koscielny or Mertesacker suffer injury Nor is there any chance of resting either over the hectic winter schedule. We look at five potential January reinforcements for the Gunners rear-guard.
Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.
