Arsenal and Man City scrap overseas trips as Covid-19 hits Premier League pre-season preparations
Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester City have had their preparations for the new season disrupted by issues relating to Covid-19.
Arsenal were forced to cancel a pre-season trip to the US to compete in the Florida Cup alongside Everton, Inter Milan and Colombian side Millonarios.
The North London outfit returned a number of positive tests among the party of players and staff due to fly out yesterday.
Arsenal were scheduled to face Serie A giant Inter, who have also announced their withdrawal from the competition.
It now casts uncertainty over Everton’s plans to participate in the Florida Cup, with only Millonarios available to play.
Arsenal will instead remain in London and resume preparations, when Covid protocols have been completed, for the new Premier League season.
They are due to begin their campaign at newly promoted Brentford on 13 August.
City scrap Troyes game over quarantine rules
Manchester City, meanwhile, have cancelled a planned friendly at French club AS Troyes.
City were due to face Troyes, who are also part of the City Football Group, on 31 July but scrapped the trip because of a change in quarantine rules.
Since this week, travellers returning to England from France must quarantine for 10 days, which threatened to further disrupt their pre-season plans.
“Both clubs explored all avenues to be able to play the game, but the recent UK government changes to quarantine rules for travellers returning from France, has made the required restrictions too difficult to overcome,” City said.
City have also decided to play friendly against Preston on Tuesday behind closed doors at their academy owing to a number of Covid cases at the site.
The Premier League champions kick off their new season against Leicester City in the Community Shield tie on 7 August.