Arsenal suffered a devastating blow today after a British tabloid newspaper revealed that central defender Thomas Vermaelen is injured and will be out for two months.

The Daily Mirror reported that Vermaelen underwent surgery Monday on his left Achilles. As you may recall, Vermaelen was injured for most of last season, and his presence in the center of defense was sorely missed by the Gunners.

If confirmed by the club, the news of Vermaelen’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time after Jack Wilshere is going to be out a further two months after he too suffered an injury.

New Arsenal signing Per Mertesacker will step in for the injured Vermaelen and will make his Arsenal debut this Saturday against Swansea City at Emirates Stadium.