Arsenal suffer Thomas Vermaelen injury blow

Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen will be out for about a month after having minor surgery on his left ankle. The 25-year-old suffered the injury in the Champions League tie with Udinese.Vermaelen missed most of last season because of an Achilles injury to his other leg, which also required an operation."This is the same treatment that he had on his right ankle in January this year and has nothing to do with his Achilles tendon," the statement continued. "The action was taken after consultation with specialists who advised this was the best thing to do to prevent it becoming a persistent problem."