Arsenal duo set for Emirates exit
PA PhotosThomas Vermaelen has endured a topsy-turvy season Defender Thomas Vermaelen and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny are said to be nearing the end of their time at Arsenal, reports in the Daily Mail and the Mirror state. Arsene Wenger is believed to be on the verge of ruthlessly axing the pair for their inconsistent form in recent months.
Szczesny is also thought to be disappointed by Wenger's ongoing search for a new goalkeeper, with the Arsenal boss publicly questioning the Poland international's mental state when it comes to important matches. Asmir Begovic, Simon Mignolet of Sunderland and Liverpool's Pepe Reina are all linked with the Gunners, who put up a brave fight against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday. For the time being, Szczesny must win back his place in Wenger's starting line-up after Lukasz Fabianski fared so well in Germany.
Vermaelen, meanwhile, has been a long-time target for Barcelona, and Wenger is prepared to part with the Belgian should the Catalan giants offer a sufficient amount. The central defender is facing a similar fight to Szczesny after being dropped last match, as Laurent Koscielny stepped in to star for the visitors.
Will either player do enough to win a spot back in the starting XI? And, if so, can they persuade Wenger not to ship them off in the summer?
Meanwhile, Manchester City are linked with 15-year-old Feyenoord product Rodney Kongolo in Friday's Express newspaper. It is reported Arsenal and Chelsea have also been monitoring the progress of Kongolo, but Roberto Mancini currently leads the race to bring the prodigy to the Premier League. Feyenoord technical director Martin van Geel told Algemeen Dagblad, though, that "no official contact has been made" by any club as yet.
To comment, you must be a registered user. Please Sign In or Register