Okonkwo, Balogun's trip to USA cancelled after positive COVID-19 tests at Arsenal

Arsenal's pre-season tour to the United States has been cancelled after positive coronavirus cases at the club, informs the official website of the Gunners.

Anglo-Nigerian youngsters Folarin Balogun and Arthur Okonkwo were expected to be on the plane to the United States on Wednesday before the trip was called off for the aforementioned reason.

The striker and goalkeeper were part of the group that trained in Scotland last week and participated in the two friendlies against Hibernian and Glasgow Rangers.

Mikel Arteta's men will not be able to face Inter Milan in the Florida Cup this Sunday, so now the club is working to arrange new pre-season friendlies.

"Following a small number of positive COVID tests among the planned party to travel to America tomorrow, we have sadly been forced to withdraw from the Florida Cup," Arsenal said in a statement on Tuesday.

"This difficult decision is based on ensuring the health and wellbeing of our players and staff.
 
"We fully understand what a disappointment this is for our supporters in America who were looking forward to seeing us compete in the Florida Cup as part of our pre-season build up.

"Our apologies also go to the organisers of the Florida Cup who had done a fantastic job making the preparations and our partners who had arranged events around our participation in the competition."

Balogun and Okonkwo have been promoted to Arsenal first team on a permanent basis ahead of the start of the 2021-2022 season and allocated the number 26 and 33 jersey respectively.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel