Norwich vs Arsenal: Arteta’s big AFCON selection calls to make

It’s all a go-go in the month of December with the hectic fixture schedule, upcoming January transfer window and winter Africa Cup of Nations meaning there is plenty to balance for Arsenal.

Playing actual football against Norwich in the Premier League on Boxing Day feels like the simplest part.

Already there have been fixtures postponed for the 26th with Liverpool vs Leeds and Wolves vs Watford being called off due to rising Covid cases, with there being no way of predicting that more won’t suffer a similar fate.

As it stands though, Mikel Arteta will take his side to Carrow Road on Sunday for their afternoon kick-off, a fixture that takes place less than 48 hours before they host Wolves at the Emirates Stadium.

Norwich vs Arsenal: Arteta’s big AFCON selection calls to make with Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Nicolas Pepe set to leave for competition

Already mentioned is that Bruno Lage’s side will be by far the fitter of the two teams. With their game against Watford called off, they will make the journey to the capital having not played for a week (and training under normal circumstances) whereas Arsenal will barely have had time to catch their breath.

On top of that, the looming Africa Cup of Nations will take four of Arteta’s squad away ahead of what will be another equally jam-packed January fixture list.

With players needing to be released to join their countries 13 days before the competition begins on January 9, that leaves Norwich as the final game for Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The latter might already have left.

As per James Benge, work is being done by Arsenal to convince Ghana to let Partey stay one extra day, allowing him to play against Wolves, but it’s not thought the same applies to the others.

In that case, Arteta has some big selection calls to make. This point in the season calls for use of the whole squad, so might be be tempted to field all three against Norwich?

Pepe comes off the back of two assists and one goal in midweek, and with Bukayo Saka the only other natural option on the right, saving his legs for the tougher fixture on paper against Wolves will do him the world of good.

As for Elneny, he would be able to do a defensive job in midfield that could grant Granit Xhaka additional time on the side, not least since the Swiss will be a mainstay throughout the spell where Partey is gone.

The manager will at least consider the idea. For one, Norwich are bottom of the league, and for two, he has a squad for a reason and next to no central midfielders left when after the aforementioned two jet off. Partey and Elneny in the pivot with Pepe out on the right is not going to cost Arsenal three points at Carrow Road. It shouldn’t do, anyway.

As part of a strong unit, it would make absolute sense for Arteta to make the most of his players while he still has them.