He absolutely will not stop - ever! Arsenal cast-off Thomas Vermaelen determined to fight on
Belgian defender linked with Barca was straight back on the bench on Tuesday after Mertesacker completed his ban but he still wants to stay
Senor service? Barcelona have been looking at Thomas Vermaelen
Laurence Griffiths Thomas Vermaelen is determined to fight for a future at Arsenal, despite finding himself out in the cold again.Vermaelen is the Gunners' club captain but was axed last month after a poor run of form, briefly got his place back when Per Mertesacker was suspended but has subsequently been dropped again.It has left the Belgian defender worried that he has now been permanently relegated down the pecking order behind Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may now be ready to listen to offers for the 27-year-old, with Barcelona one of the clubs interested in Vermaelen despite his indifferent season.The player has made it clear privately that he wants to stay and fight for his place - he enjoys life in London, where he and his family are now settled.Vermaelen was brought back against Norwich at the weekend when Mertesacker was serving a suspension, but axed in favour of the German against Everton on Tuesday.He struggled earlier in the campaign when he was often switched between left-back and centre-back and has shouldered much of the blame when Arsenal have been poor defensively.But despite being left frustrated and upset when he was first dropped, Vermaelen has got his head down and is determined to convince Wenger to recall him to the starting XI.* ARSENAL could face competition from Lazio for Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate.Senegal international Kouyate is keen on a move to the Emirates but the Italians are watching both him and team-mate Matias Suarez, a forward at the Belgian club who was ironically linked with Arsenal last year.
Belgian defender linked with Barca was straight back on the bench on Tuesday after Mertesacker completed his ban but he still wants to stay
Senor service? Barcelona have been looking at Thomas Vermaelen Laurence Griffiths Thomas Vermaelen is determined to fight for a future at Arsenal, despite finding himself out in the cold again.Vermaelen is the Gunners' club captain but was axed last month after a poor run of form, briefly got his place back when Per Mertesacker was suspended but has subsequently been dropped again.It has left the Belgian defender worried that he has now been permanently relegated down the pecking order behind Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may now be ready to listen to offers for the 27-year-old, with Barcelona one of the clubs interested in Vermaelen despite his indifferent season.The player has made it clear privately that he wants to stay and fight for his place - he enjoys life in London, where he and his family are now settled.Vermaelen was brought back against Norwich at the weekend when Mertesacker was serving a suspension, but axed in favour of the German against Everton on Tuesday.He struggled earlier in the campaign when he was often switched between left-back and centre-back and has shouldered much of the blame when Arsenal have been poor defensively.But despite being left frustrated and upset when he was first dropped, Vermaelen has got his head down and is determined to convince Wenger to recall him to the starting XI.* ARSENAL could face competition from Lazio for Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate.Senegal international Kouyate is keen on a move to the Emirates but the Italians are watching both him and team-mate Matias Suarez, a forward at the Belgian club who was ironically linked with Arsenal last year.