According to a report by Football London, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, Arsenal’s preparations for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Wolves on December 13 have taken an unexpected turn after FIFA confirmed updated player-release rules for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
FIFA has now approved a later release date of December 15, allowing AFCON-bound players to stay with their clubs longer than originally planned. This adjustment comes as a major boost for Wolves ahead of their visit to the Emirates Stadium.
Wolves will now have four influential African players available for the match—Tolu Arokodare, Marshall Munetsi, Emmanuel Agbadou, and Tawanda Chirewa. These players were initially set to depart early to join their respective national teams but will now remain with the squad for the Arsenal clash.
Additionally, wing-back Jackson Tchatchoua, who did not make Cameroon’s AFCON squad, is also ready for selection. Having these players present could significantly strengthen Wolves, especially considering their poor recent record against Arsenal, having suffered eight consecutive defeats across all competitions.
Although the ruling favours Wolves, it presents Arsenal with added complications during an already demanding December run. Everton, for example, will miss their African stars Iliman Ndiaye and Idrissa Gana Gueye when they face Arsenal on December 20, but the duo will still be available for the earlier match against Chelsea on December 13.
Arsenal remain one of the few Premier League teams without active African internationals, especially after Thomas Partey’s exit last summer.
Meanwhile, the Gunners must navigate a hectic schedule featuring games against Brentford, Aston Villa, Club Brugge, Wolves, Everton, Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, Brighton, and another meeting with Aston Villa. However, there is growing hope that key players such as Gabriel Magalhães and Kai Havertz may return from injury soon, offering Mikel Arteta more depth during this intense run of fixtures.
By Newshub