Arsenal pre-season tour of USA thrown into doubt by Inter

Arsenal have been gearing up for their pre-season tour of eastern USA for the Florida Cup, but may now not be travelling at all after reports of Inter looking to pull out of the competition.

A mini-tour of Scotland may not have brought about any welcome results, but it importantly went off without a hitch as Mikel Arteta‘s squad faced Hibernian and Rangers and trained without any COVID-related concerns.

With some semblance of normality resuming as the vaccination roll-out continues across the globe, it hasn’t prevented the number of positive cases rising. The United Kingdom alone recorded 50,000 in a single day.

The spread of the Delta variant has been a growing concern in Florida and Inter have decided to act. Hospitalisations have risen dramatically in the state.

Arsenal pre-season tour of USA thrown into doubt by Inter who want to pull out of Florida Cup over COVID-19 Delta variant concerns

As per Il Corriere dello Sport (via Football Italia), Inter have informed the organisers of the Florida Cup that they want to withdraw from the friendly tournament due to fears over the Delta variant. Inter were due to face Arsenal in the semi-final of the friendly summer tournament at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Sunday, July 25, which now looks to be cancelled.

Inter will have to pay a cancellation fee for their withdrawal but their decision to remain in Italy for ‘health reasons’ is absolutely the right course of action. Everyone’s safety comes first and flying across the globe to North America only to join crowded events and risk contracting the virus, is, rightly, being reconsidered.

It plunges Arsenal’s involvement into doubt given the obvious meeting between the pair, as well as the potential cancellation of the whole tournament. There is no word of that yet and it may be that the organisers seek another club to fill Inter’s place, but it could disrupt the Gunners’ plans entirely.

Inter’s decision is the right one to take and if it means a couple of kick arounds with Boreham Wood, then so be it.

Of course, the quality of the opposition would have made for the biggest test yet for Arteta’s side who have so far come unstuck against only Scottish opposition. Furthermore, there was an opportunity for Albert Sambi Lokonga to meet up with his new teammates abroad and make an impression. He may have to do that at London Colney instead.

Official confirmation from Inter could be delivered on Monday.