Arsene Wenger has comfirmed on Arsenal.com that Thomas Vermaelen will miss Saturday's match with Sunderland and that Laurent Koscieny faces a late fitness test.
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The Belgian, despite sitting out his country's win over Slovakia during the week, is still nursing the same ankle problem which he picked up against Liverpool a couple of weeks back and looks set for a while longer on the sidelines.
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Having picked up a calf injury in France's defeat to Germany on Wednesday it looked as though Koscieny would definately miss the trip to the Stadium of Light, however, after a 'reassuring' scan it appears he may still be an option to partner Per Mertesacker.
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Should the Frenchman not recover an alternative option would be to play Bacary Sagna in the middle with Carl Jenkinson on the right. Despite loaning Johan Djourou to Hanover it doesn't look as though young Ignasi or Sebastien Squillaci are options at this stage.
Too bad for arsenal.
This shouldn't happen to them now
The Gunners managed Sagna well against Sunderland, in the absent of Vermaelen.
They got a win against Sunderland today.
Maybe they can still cope with the defence