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Lena

15-10-2023 | 21:15 Football
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Arsenal player out of action for over a month due to international duty
Image source: Getty Images

Arsenal player out of action for over a month due to international duty

In January 2024, Arsenal faces a significant challenge to prove their Premier League title aspirations as two major international tournaments are happening simultaneously.

The 34th Africa Cup of Nations, hosted by Ivory Coast, is set to run from January 13 to February 11, and it's noteworthy for Arsenal fans because it will see Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny playing against each other. At the same time, the 2023 AFC Asian Cup is taking place in Qatar, starting on January 12 and ending on February 10. In this tournament, Japan, featuring Takehiro Tomiyasu, is placed in Group D alongside Indonesia, Iraq, and Vietnam.

As a result, Tomiyasu is poised to be the third Arsenal player representing their country in the new year. Similar to Partey and Elneny, the only Arsenal match he's certain to miss is the London derby against Crystal Palace on January 13.

Japan's national team will kick off their 2023 AFC Asian Cup campaign against Vietnam on January 14, followed by matches against Iraq and Indonesia, concluding the group stage on January 24. During this period, Arsenal may have only one Premier League match due to the mid-season player break from January 14 to 20.

However, it's expected that Tomiyasu will be away for at least a month. Given Japan's status as tournament favorites, if they reach the final, Arsenal's manager, Arteta, may not have the defender available for selection until after February 10.

This time frame poses challenges for Arsenal as they have Premier League matches against Nottingham Forest (away), Liverpool (home), and West Ham United (away) during this period. Additionally, the week commencing January 21, 2024, could involve Carabao Cup semi-final second leg and FA Cup fourth-round fixtures.


Source - Football London

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