The Hard Tackle takes a look at how the Arsenal players fared over the course of the last two weeks, following the end of the international break.
Joel Matip has confirmed reports saying he will turn down a call-up for Cameroon in the AFCON, in order to focus on Liverpool
The African Cup of Nations is scheduled to begin in January and with the qualifications drawing to a close, the Premier League is set to miss out on some star names for a period of a month. It will be interesting to see how the league copes without them.
While most clubs are going to miss some player or the other during the African Cup of Nations, the tournament will not affect the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea.
Manchester United have made a splendid start to the campaign, winning all three of their Premier League matches and Bailly has been involved in some stellar performances. His absence will leave a void in the back line and having settled into squad, he will be missed, albeit it being for a few matches.
While it is a certainty that Sadio Mane will represent Senegal, the same cannot be said about Cameroon international Joel Matip, who last represented his country back in Septemper 2015.
Arsenal are reportedly close to signing Leicester superstar Riyad Mahrez and could complete the deal within the next 48 hours.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reportedly told the media that the club is on the lookout for a central defender to add to the squad.
After the signing of Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly at Manchester United, The Hard Tackle looks at 5 Ivorians who have graced the Premier League and made a long-lasting impact.
Kenyan police fired tear gas to disperse protesting spectators after a stunning 1-0 home defeat by minnows Guinea-Bissau Sunday in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
