The Belgium international Thomas Vermaelen is subject to a £10 million bid from rivals Manchester United after losing his place in the Arsenal first team last season. Wenger prefers Per Mertesacker and Lorient Koscielny as his first-choice centre-back pairing with club captain Vermaelen behind them in the pecking order.

The Red Devils have lost the experienced pair of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, and new boss Louis Van Gaal has earmarked a move for the 28-year-old Vermaelen.

The defender just has a year left on his current contract and reportedly wants to quit Emirates Stadium in search of regular first-team football. A move to the Theatre of Dreams may be hard to resist for the Belgian, who could follow in the footsteps of Robin van Persie and swap London for Manchester.

According to a report in the Daily Star, Arsene Wenger has assured supporters that he will try and retain the services of his captain, but vowed to replace him if he decided to quit. Wenger said, “I cannot guarantee he will stay, but should he go, I would bring another centre-back in for sure.”