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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed Thomas Vermaelen will remain as club captain this season. He, however, maintains doubt over Vermaelen’s position in the starting XI.
The Belgium international is likely to miss the start of Arsenal’s new season due to an ongoing back injury. The stress fracture to his back has caused him to miss out on the club’s pre-season tour to Asia.
He had struggled to secure his place in the starting XI of the team in the 2012-13 campaign due to a stiff competition from fellow centre-backs Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker. Wenger, however, insists that the player is still a part of his plans.
When Wenger was asked about Vermaelen’s captaincy, he said,
"It depends. I cannot stick with him now because I think he will miss the start of the season.
"But certainly, he will still be club captain.
"He had a back problem. He came in with it and he couldn't practice until now. He's out for how long we don't know.
"There is nothing behind that at all (losing his starting place). There is no bad feeling because he didn't play at the end of the season. It's just an unfortunate injury."
Written by Chandraket Mall
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