Yet another club – in the form of Arsenal – have today confirmed that a key member of the club’s squad has tested positive for Covid-19.

Covid chaos

The alarming spike in Covid cases has of course proven the headline talking point across English football over the course of the week to date.

This comes on the back of confirmed outbreaks at a whole host of clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Leicester City and Watford.

The Premier League powers that be, in turn, have been left with little choice but to postpone a rake of fixtures, with the aforementioned Arsenal’s upcoming meeting with Leeds, as things stand, the only clash actually scheduled to go ahead on Saturday.

Fears spread at Arsenal as Sambi Lokonga forced to sit out Leeds clash

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 18: Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on October 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Lokonga concern

As such, it goes without saying that the last thing the Gunners themselves, or indeed the Premier League at large, would have wanted to hear this evening was of yet another positive Covid test.

But, as alluded to above, that is precisely what has now been confirmed.

Taking to social media a short time ago, Arsenal unveiled the club’s matchday squad to face Leeds United, sans the talents of, as expected, now-former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang:

‘Auba’, however, was not the only notable absentee from the visitors’ matchday setup.

The other? Midfielder Sambi Lokonga.

And, as per a further statement a short time ago, Lokonga’s omission this evening was an enforced one, after the Belgian became the latest high-profile Premier League star to return a positive test for Covid-19:

Whilst hopes will remain intact that the virus has not already spread further in the Arsenal camp, such a possibility cannot be ruled out.

 

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