ARSENAL will train in a ‘controlled environment’ at London Colney on Wednesday after the training complex was ‘deep cleaned’ on Tuesday night.
The measures come after the Gunners were forced to cancel their pre-season tour of the USA as a result of a Covid-19 outbreak among a small number of players and staff.
The squad were due to fly out to Florida this week but had to pull the plug at the last minute, throwing their pre-season plans into chaos.
A round of testing on Monday showed up the positive results, with the squad again tested on Tuesday before they were due to fly out on Wednesday.
However the trip has been cancelled, as has the game against Inter Milan that was scheduled for Sunday night in the Florida Cup.
The winners of that match, at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, would have faced Everton or Colombian side Millonarios in the final on July 28.
Arsenal are now expected to play two ‘behind-closed-doors’ friendlies to replace the lost fixtures, according to PA.
But their Mind Series matches against Chelsea and Tottenham to come on August 1 and 8, respectively, are unlikely to be affected.
Arsenal kick off the new Premier League season against Brentford on August 13.
Mikel Arteta’s side suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Hibernian in their opening summer friendly and then salvaged a 2-2 draw at Rangers.
Albert Sambi Lokonga joined in training for the first time on Monday with his new team-mates.
The 21-year-old midfielder has completed a £17million move from Anderlecht and will wear the No23 at the Emirates.
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News of the Gunners outbreak came just hours after Chelsea were pictured flying to Ireland for their own preparations for the new campaign.
Thomas Tuchel, though, is without a number of first-team stars still on holiday after their Euro 2020 exploits.
But forgotten men Danny Drinkwater and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were part of the group with both trying to break into Tuchel’s plans next season.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
