Arsenal will have to make do without Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny for a little while longer after Japan and Egypt progressed to the knockout stages of the AFC Asian Cup and African Cup of Nations respectively.
The Samurai Blue opened their campaign with a 4-2 win over Vietnam then suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Iraq before beating Indonesia 3-1 this afternoon to finish second in Group B.
Arriving in Qatar while still recovering from a calf injury he sustained in early December, Tomiyasu has been eased into action, starting for the first time today having played 45 minutes on Friday.
Egypt made difficult work of their group, drawing all three of their matches 2-2 against Mozambique, Ghana and Cape Verde.
Elneny started the first two matches but had to watch from the bench as the Pharoahs were put through the ringer on matchday 3. In the end, they snuck through in second place thanks to a horrible collapse by Ghana against Mozambique.
The Black Stars, without the injured Thomas Partey, surrendered a two-goal advantage in stoppage time; a result that has earned head coach Chris Hughton the sack.
Both Egypt and Japan are still waiting to find out who they’ll face in their quarter-finals.
I think the Japan medical staff are doing alright by Tomi🤞
A special 👏 for the Palestine national team for progressing! A bit of hope and happiness for a people enduring genocide. #ceasefirenow
Who on earth would give down votes? 😡
Israel politicians
Let’s not put politics on this website. The world is rarely black and white anymore.
Genocide is pretty black and white though. 25,000 killed, 60,000 injured, 90% displaced from their homes in Gaza and marooned.
The BBC?
Damn. Was hoping Japan was eliminated. Need Tomi back