Thomas Vermaelen confirms Arsenal tour absence

Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen has used Twitter to confirm that he will miss the club's pre-season tour of Asia because of injury.

The Belgian international has been struggling with a persistent back problem that forced him out of a return to training earlier week.

After assessing the defender, Arsenal have decided not to include their skipper on a tour of the Far East, which begins with a match against an Indonesian all-star side on Sunday.

Vermaelen used social media to inform fans that he will continue to work towards a recovery at the club's London Colney training ground.

He tweeted: "Unfortunately, due to a back injury I can't join my team mates on the Asia Tour the next few weeks. I will be staying in London.

"To receive the right treatment. Of course I will do my best to return on the pitch soon, and I will keep you posted on my progress."

Ivory Coast forward Gervinho has also been left out of manager Arsene Wenger's 24-man squad for the pre-season tour due to sickness, according to an official Arsenal statement.