Arsenal’s Wenger blasts African Nations Cup

Arsene Wenger is unhappy about losing key players Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue to the African Cup of Nations this month.

The players are due to join their squads on January 6, but Wenger is hoping he can keep them both for a little longer, especially with the injuries of other key defenders. “Losing Kolo will be a big blow, especially with so many games to play.We already have Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy out, and we lose cover at right-back with Emmanuel Eboue going.They are due to leave on January 6 but I will ask permission for them to leave later.I’d hope they could leave on January 15 as we want them for the Middlesbrough game the day before,” the Arsenal manager said.Wenger insists there won’t be a problem with the players’ fitness, so there is little need for them to leave for the tournament so early.”I think everybody will be allowed [to delay player departures] because they don’t need to work on fitness.Although the competition starts on January 20, the Ivory Coast do not play their first game until January 22.”The Frenchman went on to say that he is unhappy with the scheduling of this tournament, confused that it is taking place the same year as the World Cup.”It’s a big competition in Africa but I find it strange that, in the year of the World Cup, they have the African Nations Cup.It’s like us organising the European Championships in the same year as the World Cup.For years now, we have asked them to organise this cup at least every four years and during the summer.”Wenger is puzzled by the lack of action taken to sort out this problem.”But it’s still every two years and during the winter.I don’t know why,” he complained.-www.arsenal-mania.com”Losing Kolo will be a big blow, especially with so many games to play.We already have Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy out, and we lose cover at right-back with Emmanuel Eboue going.They are due to leave on January 6 but I will ask permission for them to leave later.I’d hope they could leave on January 15 as we want them for the Middlesbrough game the day before,” the Arsenal manager said.Wenger insists there won’t be a problem with the players’ fitness, so there is little need for them to leave for the tournament so early.”I think everybody will be allowed [to delay player departures] because they don’t need to work on fitness.Although the competition starts on January 20, the Ivory Coast do not play their first game until January 22.”The Frenchman went on to say that he is unhappy with the scheduling of this tournament, confused that it is taking place the same year as the World Cup.”It’s a big competition in Africa but I find it strange that, in the year of the World Cup, they have the African Nations Cup.It’s like us organising the European Championships in the same year as the World Cup.For years now, we have asked them to organise this cup at least every four years and during the summer.”Wenger is puzzled by the lack of action taken to sort out this problem.”But it’s still every two years and during the winter.I don’t know why,” he complained.-www.arsenal-mania.com