Last night, Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen featured for the reserves against Manchester United but his return to action, according to manager Arsene Wenger, is “too close to the end”.

Speaking to Arsenal TV Online on Thursday, the Frenchman explained that the Belgium International was missed for the whole season after suffering the injury in September as he added that having only two players ruled out with injury is not a surprise considering the Gunners are only competing in one competition.

Asked how the players will approach this weekend’s big game against Manchester United, the Arsenal boss explained they will be faithful to the attitude they have shown throughout the season as well as making sure to finish in the Top Four.

Wenger concluded by praising 37-year old Ryan Giggs, an exceptional football player who is still in action because of his quality with the manager joking that quality – and not Yoga – is the main reason why he’s still one of the best for the Red Devils.

Ahead of Sunday’s game, Wenger said:

[Thomas Vermaelen's recovery] is fantastic news but it’s too close to the end. We missed him the whole year, basically, since September he has not played.

When you consider that we play only one competition now it’s easy to explain [why only Diaby and Fabianski are the other injured players]. When we had to play the Stoke game before Birmingham we lost [Cesc] Fabregas and [Theo] Walcott [and] now we don’t play mid-week so you don’t lose players.

[Our approach] is to [now] be faithful to the attitude we’ve shown all season and to make sure we finish in the Champions League as it’s not decided yet.

And to finish as close as possible to the top [as] it would be a shame not to do that and as well to win our games, you never know, if we beat Man. United we can come back to six points and after they play Chelsea, you never know, they can be under pressure again.

[They] will 90% win the title but of course it’s important for us to show that we can beat them and I’m convinced we can and that we will.

[Ryan Giggs?] I feel first of all he was an exceptional football player, still is, but he had exceptional physical qualities so when you drop a little bit you still have a good level.

[He does Yoga?] We have a few players who do Yoga but I feel first of all his exceptional quality has helped him much more than the Yoga. It can help you to relax, to focus, to stretch, I don’t say it’s negative but the main part is that he is an exceptional football player.