Arsenal have the benefit of not having any players due to travel to the Africa Cup of Nations. While their rivals, however, will be losing some of their biggest stars and core group to the tournament.
When Thomas Partey departed in the summer, he was the last African international player in the senior squad. In prior campaigns, the Gunners had lost the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Elneny or Nicolas Pepe among others.
Everton, this weekend’s opponents for the Gunners, are without Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gueye. There are further benefits as both Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jack Grealish could both miss the game with injury.
However, as it typically does, the playing field evens out because for Sunderland, who took two points off Arsenal at the Stadium of Light, they are set to lose several players to the AFCON.
Noah Sadiki, Arthur Masuaku, Reinildo Mandava, Bertrand Traore, Chemsdine Talbi and Habib Diarra will be unavailable when Arsenal’s main title rivals, Manchester City, come to Sunderland. City are also going to be without Omar Marmoush and Rayan Ait-Nouri but neither have established themselves as regular starters in the group.
AFCON is a tournament which many wrongfully disrespect because of its placement in the calendar. While understandably frustrating that key players leave to play for their countries while domestic action continues, it is their right and their honour to represent their nations.
The tournament is regularly rescheduled due to temperature, weather or even conflicting tournament placements in the year. For instance, reports suggest the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup was a key reason for AFCON 2025 to be moved across the December 2025 and January 2026 period.
Arsenal face Crystal Palace in the League Cup quarter-final, who will be without Ismaila Sarr, who is representing Senegal. While they will then play Brighton at the Emirates on December 27, who are without Carlos Baleba, who has been called up for Cameroon.
Meanwhile, Evann Guessand will be unavailable for Aston Villa, although the Ivory Coast international has been more of a rotation option for Unai Emery. Perhaps the biggest headline is Liverpool could be without Mohamed Salah when they come to the Emirates on January 8.
