ARSENAL’S Community Shield plans have been hit by FOUR stars returning late to training due to quarantine.
FA Cup final hero Emiliano Martinez could be the main loser for Saturday’s Wembley clash with Premier League champions Liverpool.
The Argentine keeper is free to play after 14 days’ self-isolation following a holiday in Portugal, but missed the start of pre-season.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “We’ve been through all the different moments with the restrictions and rules from the government and Premier League testing.
“It’s all so unexpected what is going to happen from day to day.
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“But we are trying to adapt and to get the team in the best possible shape to compete on Saturday.
“We’ve only had two training sessions and this game comes right in the middle of our mini pre-season, so it’s not an ideal moment to play.”
It means the Gunners could pick Martinez’s big rival for the No1 shirt, Germany’s Bernd Leno, who has fully recovered from a knee injury.
Martinez, 27, was tearful after shining in Arsenal’s 2-1 final win over Chelsea last month.
His performance was hailed as a major breakthrough after eight years and six lower-division loans spells away from the Emirates.
The Gunners are reportedly comfortable with Martinez’s situation.
Meanwhile, Lille’s Brazilian centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes is in quarantine in the UK as the 22-year-old waits to complete a £25million switch from Lille to the Gunners.
