Arsenal trio tests positive for COVID-19 before League Cup tie

Arsenal defenders Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers and midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga were ruled out for Tuesday's League Cup quarterfinal at home to Sunderland after testing positive for COVID-19.

FILE PHOTO: Arsenal defender Calum Chambers is one among three players from the team to contract COVID-19.

Arsenal defenders Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers and midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga were ruled out for Tuesday's League Cup quarterfinal at home to Sunderland after testing positive for COVID-19, the Premier League club said before kickoff.

Lokonga, Mari and Chambers all miss tonight's game after testing positive for COVID

Maitland-Niles misses tonight with illness (not COVID)

Get well soon, lads ♥

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 21, 2021

 

Midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles was absent due to illness not related to COVID-19, the club added.

The Premier League said on Monday that a record 90 new cases of COVID-19 were detected among players and staff in the past week, as clubs decided to press ahead with the busy festive fixture list despite the escalating crisis.