The Verminator, as he is fondly known by the Gunners faithful, has been one solid rock at the back for Arsenal over recent seasons. However, just like goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, he has lost his form this season and has been subsequently relegated to the bench.

Wenger has frequently rotated between the trio of Vermaelen, Koscielny and Mertesacker for his defensive pairing, but it seems that he finally knows his first-choice pairing. Vermaelen’s inconsistent performances have prompted Wenger to drop his captain in place of the stable partnership of Koscielny and Mertesacker.

That partnership came to the forefront for Wenger’s side against Fulham over the weekend, earning the Gunners a vital three points in their quest for a top four finish.

Their partnership could be devastating for Vermaelen, who is keen to get regular match time with the 2014 World Cup in mind. In the nine Premier League games Arsenal have played without the 27-year-old, they have won six and drawn three.

According to Dailymail, Vermaelen is already on borrowed time at the Emirates. Wenger also acknowledged their performances saying, “They’ve done well, I must say.”

After being such a success in England, the Belgian is reluctant to accept a role on the bench. His sentiments were echoed by Wenger, who said, “It’s a very difficult decision. I don’t see him as a substitute at all.”

The report states that Vermaelen is fearful of being forced out of the Emirates next summer, but is reluctant to leave England. He would ideally like to force his way back into the fold next season, but the partnership of Mertesacker and Koscielny will be hard to break.

Arsenal are also set to spend big in the summer with a central defender also on their list of targets. This could very well mean that Vermaelen might be offloaded to make way for new additions.