Mikel Arteta’s side jetted out to the US on Sunday to play three friendlies, starting against a team of MLS All Stars on
Wednesday. Further games against Manchester United and Barcelona will follow.
Arteta has named a 27-man squad for the tour, which includes new signings Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
But Lokonga, along with Cedric Soares, Thomas Partey, Nicolas Pepe, Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe, has been left
out.
The Gunners have confirmed Smith Rowe has been granted extra time off having recently represented England at the
Under-21 European Championships.
Partey, meanwhile, is expected to rejoin the team next week having previously played in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Nurnberg
last week.
But Lokonga, Soares, Pepe and Nelson will play no part.
“The players who are not part of the squad will be working hard on their fitness and/or recovering from injury,” Arsenal said
in a statement.
Last week, Lokonga took to Instagram to clarify why he hadn’t made the trip out to Germany, revealing he’s currently
suffering with an injury.
Uploading a picture of himself on a bike machine, Lokonga wrote: “Due to a muscular injury, I’ll sadly not be part of the
summer camp with the team in Germany.
“I’m focused now on my recovery to prepare for the season and be ready to help the team at my fullest capacity.”
The development comes amid speculation linking the Clarets with a summer move for the 23-year-old midfielder.
The Belgian international, who played under Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht, made 15 appearances for the Gunners last season and spent the second half of the campaign on loan with Crystal Palace, where the midfielder made a further nine outings.
Addressing his future during a YouTube interview, Lokonga suggested it’s time he got regular minutes under his belt.
“I don’t know, I will try to go somewhere I will play,” he said.
“That’s the most important thing, to have some games and play game after game.”
It’s been reported that Arsenal are willing to sanction a permanent deal for their midfielder, but there’s a strong chance a
loan move could also include clauses for a permanent move next summer.
READ MORE:
Man City star set for medical at Burnley as £19m deal moves closer to completion
That is according to Football Insider, who report that Trafford is ready to undergo a medical ahead of his £19m move away
from Man City as the Clarets have already agreed the structure of the deal with the Manchester club, with the fee an initial
£15m rising to £19m with add-ons.
The England Under-21 hero is now able to put the finishing touches to the Clarets’ club-record signing following the end of
his international involvement at the European Under-21 Championship. Trafford played a huge role in England’s success
keeping six consecutive clean sheets and he saved a last-minute penalty in the final to help the youngsters to the trophy.
The 20-year-old made 52 appearances across all competitions for Bolton last season and kept 26 clean sheets in those
outings. All of this has impressed Kompany at Burnley as Trafford is set for regular Premier League minutes.
Trafford has been at Man City since 2015 having come through the Manchester club’s youth set-up and the Burnley move
will be the first permanent one of his career.
The 20-year-old has a promising future in the game and Kompany believes the Englishman is a star in the making.
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