Arsene Wenger is the latest boss to face the realisation of the effects of the African Nations Cup upon the Premiership season. Wenger is due to lose Eboue and Toure to the Ivory Coast a full 15 days before the tournament kicks off on January 20. That will see both players miss up to 5 Premiership matches. Both will be available to lineup against West Ham on New Years Day but will miss the game against Birmingham on January 12 and could be absent right up until mid February.

That will prove a major frustration for Wenger who today remarked on the futility of requesting any reprieve form the Ivorian FA. The absence of Toure is likely to see Senderos, who is nearing fitness and could return at the weekend, back alongside Gallas. That could make the Swiss centre-back a useful short-term buy although Arsenal’s defence, even with Toure, has kept just four clean sheets in twelve. Eboue’s place in midfield meanwhile, is likely to be absorbed by Wenger’s return to a 4-4-2 with Van Persie set to return this weekend.