By Kehinde Okeowo
Arsenal started on a very wrong footing this season, as they lost their first three games in the English Premier League (EPL) to Brentford, Chelsea and Man City respectively.
At the end of these three matches, the club was rock bottom of the Premier League, that is despite being one of the biggest spenders
during summer transfer.
But they have started improving, as they have now climbed to 11th position after winning 3 straight games and drawing 1, after the poor star.
Their coach, Mikel Arteta, is in line to win EPL September Manager of the Month. However, the stride made in recent times may be undone by the absence of some key players who will be away for Africa Cup of Nations in January 2022.
The Gunners will be missing the services of their Captain and Cabon striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ivorian winger, Nicolas Pepe, Ghanian midfielder, Thomas Partey and Egyptian defensive midfielder, Mohamed Elneny, whose countries have all qualified for the tournament.
Africa Nations Cup is expected be played between January 8 to February 8, 2022, which is indeed a crunch time in deciding the faith of most EPL teams who are trying to finish in European places , win the league or avoid the drop.
Arteta and Arsenal’s management, owners and fans alike, will be dreading going into January, as they lose these key players to the African soccer fiesta.
