Wenger sees Chelsea AFCON gain in lifted Kakuta ban

The Gunners boss is weaving threads of conspiracy that are sure to raise the heat ahead of today's Arsenal-Chelsea game. He says the African Nations Cup has everything to do with the temporary lifting of Chelsea's transfer ban.

In September, the Chelsea half of London was banned from signing players until January 2011 after Fifa found them guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007. Fifa has since cleared the Blues to add to their squad in January's transfer window, pending an appeal.

That move, according to Arsene Wenger was designed to allow his opposite number at Chelsea to sign more players and lessen the brunt of losing 4 key players to the Angola 2010 Nations Cup.

"It is no punishment," he is quoted by the Times as saying. "Until the appeal court comes forward, they [Chelsea] can buy. That suits them well."

"They used a loophole in the rules. You can't blame them for that. If it's legal, it's legal.

"I think they used the loophole because of the African Cup of Nations."

Chelsea are 8 points clear of Arsenal and if the Blues win, it would give further credence to the belief that Arsenal cannot survive the month of November, which has been their bogey month in recent years.