Arsenal have been without several key players during January through illness, injury and the ongoing African Cup of Nations. This has led to a postponement of the North London Derby and other Premier League sides also having their matches suspended.
However, the AFCON will not be the only international football claiming players from Premier League clubs. Arsenal will lose both Gabriel Magalhaes and Takehiro Tomiyasu from the fold at the end of the month as they join up with Brazil and Japan respectively for their World Cup qualifiers.
European nations are not playing until March, however, clubs in North and South America, Asia and Australia are all scheduled to take part.
