Arsene Wenger has again spoken about the possibility of Thomas Vermaelen leaving the club this summer.

The captain has just returned to London after a prolonged break due to this World Cup commitments, but won’t play a part in this weekend’s Emirates Cup because of injury.

He’s nursing a hamstring strain picked up in Brazil, and when pressed about his future at the press conference today, the boss said,

“At the moment Thomas Vermaelen is here. He is injured at the moment with a short-term injury. It (a move) could happen, yes it’s a possibility that he goes. If he goes we have to replace him because he’s an important player in our squad.

“I expect him to stay but he, of course, did not play enough games last year. For me he’s a very important player but I couldn’t guarantee him the games he wanted last year.”

Now, we have to make our minds up as to whether he’s injured or ‘injured’, but with further doubt cast on his Arsenal career, it does look as if his time at the club is almost up.

With Calum Chambers earmarked for a potential role at centre-half, and the club still in the market for more experienced cover, his departure would be no surprise at all.