According to reports coming from Spain, Thomas Vermaelen would be open to a return to Arsenal in what, for him, is a bit of tough luck.

The Belgian upped his injured sticks for the Catalans in 2014 and spent most of the first season with a shredded hamstring while Arsenal counted up the £16.15m they’d convinced Barca to give us for him.

His second season was somewhat better than his first, but to be fair he only really had to show that both his legs worked for that to be the case. He managed 10 La Liga appearances compared to just one in his debut campaign. With cup appearances, Champions League, Club World Cup and Supercopa games, Verm amassed a whopping 20 appearances, 14 of which were starts.

Vermaelen also played in five of Belgium’s six Euro games, missing the defeat to Wales through UEFA’s daft two-yellow suspension rules.

Now 30, it is believed that Barca are prepared to let yet another player they lured from Arsenal, only to discard, leave even though he still has three years left on his current contract.

Despite concerns over his long-term fitness, Vermaelen will no doubt find a host of clubs willing to sign him, many of whom might even be in the Premier League.

Arsenal will not be one of them.