Wenger worried for African players

Arsene Wenger is concerned about his players playing in the African Cup of Nations in the middle of the Premier League season.

Arsenal pair Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are scheduled to play for Morocco and the Ivory Coast respectively and Wenger is worried about how they will adapt when they return.

“It is equivalent to a player here to go to the European Championship – and they are under immense pressure,” Wenger said.

“It is a different climate. Usually we have snow in February here, so they come back from big temperature difference.”

The Frenchman has also decided against the decision to keep Gervinho for the FA Cup clash with Leeds United on Monday as he does not want to put Francois Zahoui in an awkward position.

“I do not want to go to war with him. He would be in a difficult position,” said Wenger, who was Zahoui’s manager at Nancy.

“If I keep Gervinho for Monday and Yaya Toure and Kolo Toure have to go (from Manchester City) on Sunday, it would be unfair.”

Meanwhile, Wenger does not want to rush a decision to bring a defender into the club in January despite having to cope with numerous injuries among his defensive options.

“I do not want to go for a permanent solution because we have to pay all these people as well,” he said.

“Vermaelen should be back maybe not for Swansea (on January 15), but probably after that.”