Arsenal have cancelled their pre-season tour of the USA due to a number of positive COVID-19 cases within the travelling party, according to The Athletic.
Arsenal Cancel USA Tour Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
COVID-19 Outbreak Disrupts Mikel Arteta’s Preparations
The cancellation of the tour will undoubtedly disrupt manager Mikel Arteta’s preparations for the upcoming season. The Gunners were due to travel to the USA on Wednesday to take part in the Florida Cup as part of their preparations for the 2021/22 campaign.
However, as per The Athletic, the members that tested positive within the travelling party are understood to be asymptomatic.
Arsenal were due to face last season’s Serie A winners Inter Milan on July 25 before facing the winners of Everton’s meeting with Colombian outfit Millonarios three days later.
It is now thought that the Premier League side will make attempt to make alternate plans to continue their pre-season campaign.
Who Else Will Arsenal Face During Pre-Season?
Arsenal are also due to take part in The Mind Series – an all-London tournament held with the view to support improved mental health. The Gunners will host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on August 1 before travelling across north London to face bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur a week later.
Arteta’s side kicked off their preparations in Scotland over the last week, clocking in a 2-1 defeat and 2-2 draw against Hibernian and Rangers respectively.
Arsenal will kick off their Premier League campaign with a short away trip to new-comers Brentford on August 13. Arteta will hope that, by then, his squad has plenty of game time under their belt.
The Spaniard will be desperate to oversee improvement next season after a disappointing campaign last time out. Whether their will be further incomings by August remains to be seen. Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares have already made the move.
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