English Premier League: Arsenal Injury Update

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen will undergo surgery to cure the Achilles injury that has been troubling him since September. He is expected to return in four to six weeks, but we’ve heard this one before, haven’t we?

"It’s not a real surgery," Arsene Wenger said. "It is to take out a little [tendon] next to his [Achilles] tendon. It is to open it a little bit and cut out the [tendon] that has been causing the friction. It is a procedure, that is the right medical term."

Wenger says Vermaelen should recover soon from his procedure.

"We are very optimistic that [this will cure the problem]. But of course it is now what you call in football a little bit longer delay of four to six weeks," Wenger said.
 
According to some reports, Vermaelen has targeted the first leg of the Champions League tie with Barcelona on February 16 for his comeback. That falls within Wenger’s timeframe, but the Frenchman knows his defender will need games before he can perform at the top level.
 
"Let’s count the weeks to Barcelona and you will know," Wenger said. "I count a minimum of four weeks, maximum six, so it is not an unrealistic target." 

Aaron Ramsey has returned from his loan spell, but will still need more games in order to return to full fitness.

Wojciech Szczesny will continue in goal for the FA Cup replay against Leeds on Wednesday after Lukasz Fabianski suffered a minor setback in his recovery from a shoulder injury. Szczesny looks like he will stay in goal for home games against Wigan and Ipswich also.

Wenger expects Fabianski and Abou Diaby (calf) to be fit after that, but Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring) could take a little longer to return (two weeks, according to Wenger).

"We look alright," Wenger told Arsenal TV Online. "We have of course Ramsey available again and Diaby is not far away. So overall the situation has not deteriorated and we hope to get Diaby back soon.
 
"Wigan will be too early [for Diaby], even I believe Ipswich will be too early, but the game after he should be available. He should be the first one who will be back. 
 
"We still have Fabianski out with a shoulder injury, we still have Almunia out and therefore Wojciech will continue to play."