By Ben Wyatt BBC Sport

Arsenal will miss their defensive stalwart Kolo Toure

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, is just the latest in a long line of coaches in England to voice frustration over the loss of key African players to the 2008 Cup of Nations.

The French coach has complained about the amount of time he will lose Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue.

Both players will transfer their defensive services to the Ivory Coast's cup cause during the Ghana tournament.

A predicted call up for Cameroon midfielder Alex Song could further increase the impact of the biennial event on Arsenal as they bid to stay in title contention over the fixture-congested New Year period.

Indeed, the African presence in the Premier League is now so great; a little sympathy for the grumbling coaches may well be justified.

Of the 20 clubs that make up the division, only three (Aston Villa, Manchester City and Manchester United) lack at least one of the league's 49 players from the continent in their ranks.

Harry Redknapp is relieved Benjani will miss the 2008 Cup of Nations

Portsmouth boss, Harry Redknapp, recently said he 'feared' the Cup of Nations because he has seven Africans in his squad.

However, at least one of the league's top goal-scorers, Zimbabwe's Benjani Mwaruwari, will be staying with Pompey thanks to the Warriors' failure to qualify.

Chelsea's loss could yet prove the greatest; the Blues will be without talisman striker Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou (both of Ivory Coast), Ghana's midfield maestro Michael Essien and Nigeria's Mikel Jon Obi.

Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers will lose South Africa's Benni McCarthy (the Premier League's second highest goal scorer last season) and Aaron Mokoena to Bafana Bafana.

Everton will miss record signing Ayigbeni Yakubu when the striker packs his bags for Ghana.

Nigerian compatriots Victor Anichebe and Joseph Yobo, and South Africa's Steven Pienaar will also travel.

Senegal currently have six of their finest playing in England's top tier.

Although captain El Hadji Diouf has hit out at the timing of the African competition, it is likely he will leave Bolton Wanderers to lead fellow Teranga Lions Diomansy Kamara (Fulham), Papa Bouba Diop (Portsmouth) Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye (Newcastle United) next year.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) maintains the event must start in January to avoid the continent's rainy season.

So it seems the Premier League will see in every other New Year without its African stars for some time to come.