We can't sell him to United though. It's out of the question. I don't care whether he's surplus to requirements. We can't control what he does when he's out of contract but we have money to burn now. I don't want us to sell a player to a direct rival ever again. Not even if it's Jenkinson.

I know what you mean and a part of me felt the same at first. I just don't think he'd suddenly become a very good player for them. If anything, I see it as a guarantee that for at least a season or two they'll have a pretty average centre back playing regularly for them.

He's arsenal's captain. He shouldn't be sold to united like rvp.

This is ridiculous.

He won't be sold at all, at least not until we first get an alternative to him.
A bit like Bendtner last year, there may be no long term plan for him but in an area where our numbers are low he'll be kept as back-up regardless of his contract situation.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/02/arsene-wenger-arsenal-lukas-podolski-thomas-vermaelen

Wenger came out in early May and said Podolski and Vermaelen specifically weren't going anywhere, even if those two aren't getting the playing time they'd like. Stability is important, etc. Vermaelen wouldn't say no to a move that makes him a starter but we'll run his contract down.

Am I the only one who thinks Vermaelen has been pretty good this season the few times he's played? Would make United a better team, which is why we should never consider selling him to them.

He is, its so hard to find someone who can just slot into the team with such lack of match practice and look class.

Wilshere wrote:

Am I the only one who thinks Vermaelen has been pretty good this season the few times he's played? Would make United a better team, which is why we should never consider selling him to them.

nope.

Madness to sell him. He does fit straight back into the team when needed.

He's a great 3rd choice and expecting Koz and Mert to avoid injury as much as they did last season is a huge gamble.

To fight on all 4 fronts we need real back up, Tommy V provides that.

Are there any sale figures flying around?

He'll end up 3rd choice at united if he goes. They'll sign a better starting player asap.

According to The Mirror and John Cross

Arsenal REJECT Manchester United bid for Thomas Vermaelen and may offer club captain new deal

I really do not see him being sold unless we first buy a central defender, I don't see us selling first and scrambling to replace him.

Good. Fuck off Man Utd.

I am vary of too many changes in the dressing room. IMO selling Vermaelen and replacing him is an unnecessary exercise. TV is our captain, he knows the PL and the club and is by all accounts a decent dressing room influence. He is also a fairly capable backup CB IMO.

I think we should do the absolute maximum to make sure TV stays. And its not just about selling to Man Utd, though that is certainly the half of it. I see far more value in convincing TV to stay than selling him to UTD for a decent fee

Jed wrote:

Good. Fuck off Man Utd.

Yes.

y va marquer wrote:

According to The Mirror and John Cross

Arsenal REJECT Manchester United bid for Thomas Vermaelen and may offer club captain new deal

I really do not see him being sold unless we first buy a central defender, I don't see us selling first and scrambling to replace him.

Good news. This nonsensical practice of selling players to our direct rivals has to stop.

If signs a new contract fair enough. If he doesn't we should sell.

Wenger needs to learn how to rotate properly; keeping 3 CBs happy shouldn't be too hard really.

If we want to rotate at CB we need someone far, far better than Vermaelen as 3rd choice.

Anyway I prefer a consistent centre half pairing if possible. Rotate the full backs more (also requires someone better than Monreal).

We can easily get away with Vermaelen against the bottom half of the league as it is I reckon, but even more so if we add a proper striker and a class wide player.