BRIEFS: Socrates hospitalised

Former Brazil captain Socrates is in intensive care and on a ventilator after being hospitalised with internal bleeding. Doctors at the Albert Einstein hospital said in a statement yesterday that they had controlled the bleeding in his stomach.

The 57-year-old Socrates was released from the hospital 10 days ago after being treated for more than a week for the same problem. The hospital said the haemorrhage was caused by high blood pressure in the vein that carries blood from the digestive system to the liver.

An elegant playmaker known for his great field vision, Socrates was capped 63 times with Brazil, scoring 25 goals. He captained the 1982 and 1986 World Cup squads.

Vermaelen out for a month

LONDON (AP):

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen was ruled out for a month yesterday after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury, adding to the London team's problems at the start of the Premier League season.

The Belgium centre back, who missed eight months of last season with an Achilles' injury, had the operation to remove an inflamed tendon from his left ankle after consultation with specialists.

Vermaelen was injured in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Udinese in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying playoff match in Italy, forcing him out of the team's humiliating 8-2 defeat at Manchester United in the Premier League four days later.

He will miss Arsenal's first two Champions League group games, as well as possibly four Premier League matches, denying manager Arsene Wenger the chance to link Vermaelen with new-signing Per Mertesacker, who joined from Werder Bremen on transfer deadline day last week.

Key midfielder Jack Wilshere said Sunday he expects to be sidelined for at least two months with an ankle injury, leaving the club without two of their most important players.

Arsenal are fourth from bottom in the Premier League with one point from three games.