Laurent Koscielny(credit:
Wikipedia)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been dealt a double defensive blow with the news Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny are out until the New Year.
Vermaelen, 25, has been out of the Gunners’ squad since injuring his Achilles while away on international duty in Sepetember, and boss Arsene Wenger had been hoping the Belgian would return by the end of last month or the early stages of this one.
But the Frenchman has now told Arsenal’s official website: “Vermaelen is in a (protective boot). We want him back and I hope he will be back soon, but not before January.”
Koscielny joins Vermaelen on the sidelines with a suffering a concussion during the 2-1 win over Fulham at the weekend.
The Frenchman, 25, collided with team-mate Sebastien Squillaci in the build up to the Cottagers’ goal and he is now facing up to three weeks out.
And the absence of the pair means Wenger is likely to field a makeshift pairing of Squillaci and Johan Djourou during the hectic December schedule, which includes games against title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.