Arsenal lose Vermaelen for two months

Arsenal have been dealt a huge blow with defender Thomas Vermaelen ruled out for two months after ankle surgery, according to reports.

The 25-year-old was sorely missed for the majority of last season through injury and now looks set to miss at least the first third of the new campaign.

The Daily Mirror are reporting that the centre-back was in Stockholm on Monday to undergo surgery on his left Achilles and will be out of action for up eight weeks.

The former Ajax man last played two weeks ago in the second leg against Udinese as the Gunners qualified for the Champions League group stage.

The Belgium international took a kick in that away match in Italy, however, and was ruled out of the embarrassing 8-2 loss to Manchester United a few days later.

He will join Jack Wilshere on the list of those out injured at the Emirates, who revealed at the weekend that he would be unavailable for two to three months because of an ankle problem picked up in pre-season.

For their next game at home to Swansea City they will also be without Emmanuel Frimpong, Gervinho and Alex Song, who are all suspended.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be hoping deadline-day signings Andre Santos and Per Mertesacker can patch up an injury-ravaged Gunners backline as the north London club look to forget their shaky start to the season.