ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS, FIRST LEGS: Ipswich Town v Arsenal: Venue: Portman Road Kick-off: 7.45pm On TV: Sky Sports 1:ARSENE WENGER has confirmed Arsenal will move for a new centre half in the January transfer window following the news that Thomas Vermaelen has suffered another injury setback.
Vermaelen, who has not played for Arsenal since August, is still struggling to recover from an Achilles injury, while Sebastien Squillaci is expected to be out for at least a fortnight after damaging a hamstring in the FA Cup match with Leeds United last Saturday.
“[Vermaelen] has another check today,” Wenger said. “He had another setback on Saturday that we are concerned with. We are consulting top specialists around the world. We’ll know more on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately I can’t give you any precise date but I concede that, with this little setback from Thomas, we are in a situation where we will have to look around.
“Squillaci will be out for a maximum of three weeks, minimum two. It is a hamstring injury but it is not too bad – a grade one. He’ll be back in two weeks if all goes well.”
With only two fit centre halves, Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou, at his disposal, Wenger is now certain to add to his squad, with Bolton Wanderers’ Gary Cahill, Montpelier’s Emir Spahic, Per Mertesacker of Werder Bremen and Paris St Germain’s Mamadou Sakho all potential targets.
However, German Mertesacker looks set to stay put.
“We are in a difficult moment with Werder and we should not be talking about me at this time,” he said. “I am needed here for our day-to-day work and it is my duty to concentrate on that. I cannot deal with anything else. . . I have told my agent that he should leave me in peace.”
Wenger is, nonetheless, unlikely to make a move for the Newcastle United and two-time Arsenal defender Sol Campbell.
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has warned his side cannot afford to underestimate “dangerous” Championship strugglers Ipswich in tonight’s League Cup semi-final first leg at Portman Road.
Even though Wenger will again rotate his squad, the visitors are odds-on favourites to easily dispose of Ipswich – who on Monday appointed Paul Jewell as successor to Roy Keane – and reach Wembley next month as they look to secure a first piece of silverware in six seasons.
However, Fabregas, who came off the bench on Saturday to net a last-minute penalty against Leeds which kept Arsenal in the FA Cup, knows the Suffolk club will be “motivated” to cause a major upset.
“Although Ipswich are a Championship team, that can make them even more dangerous,” the Spain international said.
“Their motivation will be very high – these will be the biggest two games of their year. They will be desperate to beat us, they will want to show their strengths, and their motivation will be as high as possible. If we want to get through we will have to match that motivation, if not raise it further.”
Fabregas could again be on the bench tonight, with Wenger keen to keep his players fresh for the challenges ahead, which continue to come thick and fast – with a trip to relegation-battlers West Ham on Saturday evening swiftly followed by their FA Cup third-round replay at Elland Road.
Wojciech Szczesny looks set for another start in goal, with former number one Manuel Almunia now on the verge of a transfer to Galatasaray. Young Poland stopper Szczesny has impressed in his Premier League outings so far.
Guardian Service
