Vermaelen last played for Arsenal on 28 August 2010

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen will undergo surgery on his Achilles tendon in Sweden on Tuesday and will be out of action for a further six weeks.

Vermaelen, 25, has not played for the Gunners since 28 August after picking up the injury playing for Belgium.

"It's a little tendon beside the Achilles tendon which is provoking the irritation," said the Belgian defender.

Last week Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he wanted to bring in cover for Vermaelen during the transfer window.

"We're in a situation where we have to look around," Wenger told the Arsenal website.

But the Frenchman has not been in touch with Newcastle about the availability of former Arsenal and England centre-half Sol Campbell.

606: DEBATE No ifs, no buts, with Vermaelen effectively gone for the season Arsenal must buy a centre-back and we need real quality, not some make shift player Doubting Thomas

It had been reported that Wenger was considering bringing back the 36-year-old for a third spell at Arsenal following the injuries to Vermaelen and Sebastien Squillaci, who hurt his hamstring in the 1-1 FA Cup third-round draw with Leeds on 8 January.

"Sol Campbell is at Newcastle. We have not been in touch with him, no," said Wenger.

Wenger had cautiously hoped Vermaelen, who was injured while playing for Belgium in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Turkey on 7 September, might have returned in late January.

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