by Mark Bassey

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, has said that the trio of Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker, will all miss the start of the next campaign.

The three players were part of the Germany team, that defeated Argentina 1-0 to lift the 2014 World Cup and will not return to the Gunners’ pre-season training till August 11, five days before they face Crystal Palace in their league opener.

“I have given them a good break because I have experience of players who have been in the World Cup final. You need a rest,” the French manager said.

“Will they be ready? Mertesacker prepares well – but for the first game I don’t think they will be ready for August 16.”

Wenger also added that FIFA must adjust their post-World Cup timetable, so that club managers would not face similar difficulties in future.

“A post-World Cup year is always very difficult and short, the World Cup final was July 13th and the start of the Premier League is August 16,” Wenger said.

“From FIFA we are obliged to give four weeks holiday to the players, so I don’t know how all that works together. It looks impossible to me.

“A post-World Cup year is always very difficult for every big club because the players have been away.”

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