Arsenal Loan Out Defender Just A Day After North London Derby Postponement
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Arsenal have loaned out a player, less than 24 hours after their match against Tottenham Hotspur had to be postponed because they didn't have enough available players.
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There was anger from many football fans, especially Spurs fans, when the Gunners asked the Premier League to postpone their game, despite only one positive Covid test in the team, which became two after the postponement.
Gary Neville wasn't happy with the decision, calling for all games to be played from now on, although fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards did defend Mikel Arteta's team.
One criticism of the Gunners was the fact they'd recently loaned out Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Florian Balogun as two men who could have played.
Now they've loaned another player out, with centre back Pablo Mari set for join Udinese until the end of the season, according to Fabrizio Romano, and the news hasn't gone down well with rival fans.
Haha literally postponed a game because they didn’t have enough players and they’re still loaning them out 🤣🤣
— Antonio Conte 🇮🇹 (@BenjiAndrews23) January 17, 2022
Arsenal clearly not planning on playing anymore games for while. Not enough players to play a premier league on Sunday but enough to loan our another player today. Joke. They should be deducted 3 points immediately
— gavin (@gavinspurs) January 17, 2022
Relegate them tbh
— Jack 🇦🇺 ➐ (@thfc_diajack) January 17, 2022
Imagine loaning out player because you’re scared to play spurs and Liverpool 😭
— ً (@LFCAJ_) January 17, 2022
But couldn’t play there game cause of one covid case 😆😆😆😆 https://t.co/ily5Vr3xrD
— Dylan Lacey (@TinooTime) January 17, 2022
@premierleague care to explain how @Arsenal can do this when they can’t field a team? Presume their game against Liverpool will be postponed @EFL https://t.co/oZQcy2cZVK
— 1882spurs (@1882spurs1) January 17, 2022
“Now loan out Pablo Mari so that you have even less players available” pic.twitter.com/U80o1hskTt
— ODDSbible (@ODDSbible) January 17, 2022
Arsenal loaning out Pablo Mari after requesting a postponement just because they like to taunt the rest of the league pic.twitter.com/Y2UfiVZEwS
— Flappyhandski (@Faaabianskiii) January 17, 2022
Arsenal loaning out Pablo Mari after getting a game called off for a lack of a squad, disband the club imo
— Big Roguey (@alantherogue) January 17, 2022
Sunday: Not enough players for NLD
— Rob (@robhoopz) January 17, 2022
Monday: Pablo Mari loaned to Udinese 😂😂
We got enough for Thursday? 😂🤦🏼♂️
Mari wasn't exactly a first choice starter for Arteta, before moving to Serie A, with the 28-year-old centre back having only played two Premier League games so far this season.
He easily could have played a third on Sunday, if the league hadn't decided to postpone the game with Arsenal, and it surely brings questions about the team's ability to play their next game, on Thursday against Liverpool.
At least one of the two players who tested positive for Covid won't be available less than a week on from their positive test and those at the Africa Cup of Nations still won't be available.
Granit Xhaka also can't play in the 2nd leg of the Carabao Cup semi final, after the most Xhaka sending off possible in the first leg.
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: Premier League, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Serie A, Transfers