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Mikel Arteta confirms two Arsenal players are sidelined with Covid-19

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Albert Sambi Lokonga and Pablo Mari were ruled out of the Premier League clash at Leeds United due to positive Covid-19 tests.

Lokonga has been a regular unused substitute for the Gunners in the last few games with Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey picked to start in the centre of the park.

Prior to the Leeds game, the Gunners confirmed that the midfielder had tested positive for Covid-19. It has now been confirmed that Mari is sidelined for the same reason.

The Spaniard has not been in the matchday squad in the league for several months, but Arteta acknowledged that he could be out for a while due to coronavirus.

He told Arsenal.com: “We have another player as well, Pablo has Covid, so unfortunately they will be out.”

The Premier League has been drastically hampered by positive covid cases, and as many as six league games have been postponed in the ongoing matchday.

Hopefully, the Gunners don’t see an increase in cases over the coming days as several players would have been in close contact with Lokonga and Mari in training.

The club are scheduled to face Sunderland in a midweek Carabao Cup quarter-final at home. Arteta is widely expected to make wholesale changes to the XI.

Unfortunately, Lokonga and Mari won’t get an opportunity to make the squad, and we wish them a quick recovery.

The Gunners should be favourites to beat the Black Cats. They have the chance to reach the last four of the competition for the first time since 2017/18.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

Read: Mikel Arteta provides fresh update on Alexandre Lacazette’s future at Arsenal.

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