- Arsenal have been hit with a new injury blow to Thomas Vermaelen.
The Belgian international defender, who missed virtually all of last term with a similar injury, will be out for at least a month.
The news came 24 hours after England midfielder Jack Wilshere revealed he could be out for two months with an ankle problem.
Vermaelen, 25, picked up the injury in the Gunners' win at Udinese in the Champions League two weeks ago and missed the crushing 8-2 loss at Manchester United.
The centre-back pulled out of the Belgium squad and medics told him to rest before deciding if he needed surgery.
Yet Vermaelen yesterday had surgery in Stockholm in the hope of avoiding a long-term nightmare like last season.
- UEFA reject Arsenal’s appeal.
"Wenger will now be suspended from carrying out his duties at Arsenal's next two UEFA competition matches – the UEFA Champions League group stage games against Borussia Dortmund and Olympiacos FC on 13 and 28 September – in accordance with the decision taken by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body on 22 August.
"The manager was awarded this suspension for not abiding by an earlier decision of the Control and Disciplinary Body during the Udinese home game – in which Wenger was serving a one-match ban imposed following Arsenal's final UEFA Champions League game of last season.
"The Control and Disciplinary Body also fined Arsenal €10,000 for improper conduct by their officials during the match against the Italian team in north London."
- Arsenal icon Robert Pires has jumped to the defence of underfire manager Arsene Wenger.
"I have known Arsene for many years and he is not the type of coach who will give up at the first sight of a problem," Pires said.
"If people thought that after the 8-2 at Old Trafford he would leave, they are wrong. He did not go and will continue to the end with his ideas.
"The season is long and Arsenal still have room for improvement."
- Andrey Arshavin was disappointed Arsenal missed out on Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila.
"Perhaps another holding midfielder wouldn't hurt and, as far as I know, we were trying till the last minute to get [Rennes midfielder Yann] M'Vila, but unfortunately we weren't able to buy him," he said.
"Judging by the quantity and quality of our signings, Arsenal's football will soon undergo some changes."
- Andrey Arshavin feels Arsenal's new midfield signings Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta will make an impact.
"When people say no-one is irreplaceable I don't agree. With [Mikel] Arteta or whoever replaces those who have left, we will play different football, not as we played with Cesc and Samir," he said.
"Arteta and Benayoun have long proved themselves in the Premier League, they're not bad signings. And we needed strengthening in those positions."
- Werder Bremen chief Klaus Allofs is backing Per Mertesacker for success at Arsenal.
Allofs said: "Per Mertesacker always said he would have loved to remain with us. I trust him, he is simply an absolute honest character.
"But he also said he would love to join Arsenal now. This is why we then started to negotiate a deal.
"We were not taken by complete surprise as you could foresee such a bid. We agreed with Arsenal FC on Tuesday, these negotiations went quickly. We are delighted with the deal."
Allofs added: "I believe Per Mertesacker is a good fit, he will do well in the Premiership. He will break through. It's obvious his game needs a bit of adopting to that standard there. But he is an intelligent player, he will do so."
- Arsenal fullback Kieran Gibbs is anxious to get back onto the pitch.
"I like to help when I can [going forward]," he said.
"We can do a lot of damage to teams, me and Bac and the others, when we play. We play very high up and we like to play that type of football. Hopefully we can make it even more effective this season.
"I’ve been playing at left back for two years now and it is something that you have to keep learning and keep progressing with. The more I play, the more I will get used to that role.
"You have to be more concentrated [as a full back], especially with the formation that we play. We are an offensive team and we play exciting football, so we have to be more aware defensively."
- Arsenal striker Benik Afobe welcomed the club's late signing spree last week.
"I think the boss has done a very good job with these signings – maybe even better than people expected," he said.
“It’s good that the boss has bought some more experienced players. We know what they can do and the way they play is very good. I've been watching Arteta and Benayoun for five years, and it's good that they have come from other English clubs because you know that they are proven in the Premier League.
"We know they are going to fit in"
- Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey wants to play in the Olympics with Great Britain.
Wales captain Ramsey said: "Given the opportunity, I'd like to play in the Olympics. And I know Gareth feels the same."
- Kyle Ebecilio is delighted with his progress at Arsenal.
"My first aim is to start every game in the Reserves and score five goals by Christmas," he said. "Then I would like to join the first team and make my debut in the Carling Cup.
"I signed my first [professional] contract in February and that was very important for me. The manager has said I have to keep working hard and that is what I will do."
- Isaac Hayden has revealed how being thrashed by Arsenal 5-0 led him to signing with the Gunners.
“I was playing for my former club Southend United and we lost 5-0 but I felt I’d had a decent game,” he said.
“I was playing as a holding midfielder and was really disappointed by the result. The coaches at Arsenal have now told me that they felt I was one of the best players on the pitch that day despite the result and they began watching me as a consequence. Later on that year we played Arsenal at Hale End and won 9-4 and I scored four. Arsenal then approached Southend and so I am now a Gunner.”
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