Arsene Wenger

Published: 13 March 2014
by STEVE BARNETT

AARON Ramsey could be in line for a sensational return to action on Sunday as Arsene Wenger looks to bulk up his attacking options ahead of Arsenal’s titanic north London derby away at Tottenham.

The midfielder, who has been out since Boxing Day with a thigh injury, was earmarked to return for the Gunners’ following match away at Chelsea.

But Wenger is starting to run out of experienced attacking options in midfield after Mesut Ozil was ruled out “for at least a few weeks” with a hamstring injury which saw him substituted at half-time in the 1-1 draw away at Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

With Ozil joining Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott on the sidelines Wenger may at least opt to name Ramsey on the bench as an option late on if the game isn’t going Arsenal’s way.

Wenger is likely to inject some pace into his team in the shape of Kieran Gibbs, who missed the midweek game against Bayern with an ankle injury.

It means Thomas Vermaelen could find himself back on the bench, casting yet more doubt over the club captain’s future.

Vermaelen, who has just over a year to run on his current contract, refused to get side-tracked by all the transfer speculation, insisting that he just wants to focus on Arsenal.

“There has been a lot of speculation, but I can’t talk about it because I don’t know what is going on,” he said. “My focus is on Arsenal at the moment. There is still a lot to play for. I can’t do anything about rumours.

“I know anything can happen, so I am happy to play when he needs me.

“From my point of view, I hope it is as much as it can be. I work hard for the team and that is the only thing that I can do.”