4 days ago
33
FIFA have now confirmed when clubs will be permitted to release their players involved in the Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on December 21
Wolves have been handed a huge boost ahead of next week's trip to Arsenal on December 13 as a number of Rob Edwards' key first-team players will now be available to face the Gunners.
The Premier League's basement boys have struggled for results all season, both at home and on their travels and the Emirates Stadium is now widely recognised as one of the most-difficult grounds in European football to claim points as a visiting side.
Wolves have now lost their past eight matches in all competitions against Mikel Arteta's side, underlining the size of the task at hand.
But they will now have African quartet Tolu Arokodare (Nigeria), Marshall Munetsi (Zimbabwe), Emmanuel Agbadou (Ivory Coast) and Tawanda Chirewa (Zimbabwe) available for the contest after FIFA finally confirmed that clubs will be able to keep hold of their AFCON-bound stars until December 15.
Initially, it had been intimated that players would have to be released on December 8 but FIFA have now granted a seven-day extension ahead of the international competition which begins in Morocco on December 21.
Wolves wing-back Jackson Tchatchoua will also be available to play against Arsenal although he was surprisingly left out of Cameroon's squad this week, anyway.
In more positive news for the Premier League leaders, Everton will be without danger man Iliman Ndiaye and midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye on December 20 when the two sides meet at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Ndiaye and Gueye have, however, been cleared to face Chelsea on December 13 - that will be the first time the midfielder is free to play following his red card against Manchester United - and that could also be significant for the Gunners as they'll be hopeful the Toffees can take points from the Blues.
Arsenal and one of three Premier League sides, alongside Chelsea and Leeds, that do not currently have any African players in their squad following Thomas Partey's release last summer.
The games are now coming thick and fast for Arteta's challengers. They host Brentford on Wednesday evening before travelling to Aston Villa on Saturday lunchtime.
The Gunners then travel to Club Brugge in Champions League action before hosting Wolves. It's a manic month as Arsenal also face Everton, Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, Brighton and Aston Villa again before the end of 2025.
There is optimism all of their injured stars including Gabriel Magalhaes and Kai Havertz could be back to play a part in the hectic festive schedule.
English (US) ·