Arsene Wenger admits that he is concerned about the potential impact the African Cup of Nations can have on some of his players, arsenal.com reports.
Summer signing Gervinho, who has impressed in his first season in English football, and striker Marouane Chamakh are due to play in this year’s competition for Ivory Coast and Morocco respectively. The two forwards have left for the tournament and are not expected to return until early-to-mid February. Gabon and Equatorial Guinea are co-hosting the African Cup of Nations, which runs from January 21st to February 12.
Wenger is concerned about the pressure that his players will be under and believes that it will be detrimental to their performances when they return. The Arsenal boss has also tipped Gervinho to triumph with the Ivory Coast, who are the favourites, and that adds more pressure on the Arsenal forward to deliver for his country.
‘It is the equivalent of a player here going to the European Championship. They are under immense pressure. It is a different climate (over there). Usually, we have snow in February here, so they come from a big temperature difference. Most of the time, they are dead (afterwards). Ivory Coast are hot favourites, they have an incredible team. They are under massive pressure’, Wenger said.
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