Thomas Vermaelen has been linked with a move back to Arsenal but it doesn’t look likely.

The centre-back, who has only appeared for Barcelona a handful of times since signing two seasons ago, is looking for a move away from the Catalans in order to get more playing time. Reports have previously claimed that he’s looking for a switch to Roma but now the tables have turned and the media, namely the Sport in Spain, are claiming that the 30-year-old is about the make a ‘shock return’ to north London.

The Belgium international, who has also been linked with a move to West Ham, won’t return. This would be almost too Arsenal-ly, even for…well…Arsenal.

We are in need of another defender, given Per Mertesacker’s knee explosion, but buying someone we didn’t deem good enough for the squad two years ago would be – quite literally – a huge step backwards.

It won’t happen. Tommy V and his glass-cutting bone structure will just have to remain in Spain.