Arsenal are slated to lose Thomas Teye Partey(Ghana), Pierre Emerick Aubameyang(Gabon) and Nicholas Pepe(Ivory Coast).
The trio have played a significant role this season for the Gunners to go ten games unbeaten.
Arsenal could lose Partey, Pepe and Aubameyang for as many as eight games in the New Year.
Those selected, according to the players, could we’ll go back to their native country after the Premier League’s Boxing Day fixtures and they will not return until the second week of February, should their team go all the way in Cameroon.
Arsenal will see both Partey and Aubameyang competing in same group (GROUP C) of the competition and will play in Match Day 2 of the tournament.
FIFA rules state “players must be released and start travel to their representative team no later than Monday morning the week preceding the week when the relevant final competition starts.”
Ghana will take on Morocco in their group opener on 10th January, with Gabon taking on Comoros whiles in Group E Ivory Coast will play Equatorial Guinea in their group opener on 12th January.
Arsenal are yet to make a decision on when they will release their players with discussions to be held nearer the time.
But manager Mikel will be hugely reluctant to lose the trio for any longer than absolutely necessary.
Source: ghanasportspage.com
