Arsenal have confirmed their friendly against Inter, which was supposed to be played on Sunday, has been scrapped, but the Florida Cup is expected to go ahead.
The Nerazzurri and the Serie A giants should have met in the friendly tournament Florida Cup on Sunday, but the Gunners have been forced to withdraw from the competition, which also involves Everton and Millonarios.
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.
This difficult decision is based on ensuring the health and wellbeing of our players and staff.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 20, 2021
“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’s statement reads.
“This difficult decision is based on ensuring the health and wellbeing of our players and staff.”
Only a few hours prior, Inter and the Florida Cup organizers had denied that the Nerazzurri would not travel to the US amid fears of COVID Delta variant.
Even if Arsenal have now withdrawn from the friendly competition, the Florida Cup will still go ahead, the organizers ensured.
Our statement regarding Arsenal: pic.twitter.com/WDB3JBE0Pd
— FC Series (@FC_series) July 21, 2021
“We wish the members of the Arsenal travelling party who tested positive for COVID-19 a speedy recovery as we continue making final preparations for the event,” they wrote in an official statement published on Twitter.
So, Inter will meet either Everton or Millonarios in the Final at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Thursday, July 29.
The Serie A champions met Lugano in their first summer friendly last weekend and beat the Swiss side on penalty after a 2-2 draw in regular time.