Reiss Nelson has picked up an injury, ruling him out of the pre-season tour of the USA over the coming fortnight.

Arsenal named their travelling squad for the tour of the USA on Sunday, with 27 players making the trip and Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey expected to follow during the week.

But Reiss Nelson was an unexpected absentee, having started for the Gunners against FC Nurnberg last Thursday after agreeing a new long-term deal with the club.

The immediate assumption was that the winger must have picked up an injury, and this has since been confirmed.

Kaya Kaynak reported that Nelson was one of the players that Arsenal had mentioned were “working hard on their fitness and/or recovering from injury”, and The Athletic then confirmed that Nelson is missing out due to injury.

Nelson isn’t the only injury absentee, with The Athletic also confirming that Nicolas Pepe and Albert Sambi Lokonga are missing for the same reason.

This isn’t entirely new information, with Pepe having been working on an injury comeback since April and Lokonga publicly confirming his recent setback.

The only update is the fact that they’re both still not ready to return to action just yet.

Pepe and Lokonga were both heavily linked with transfers to begin with, so their absences aren’t likely to have a significant impact on Mikel Arteta’s pre-season preparations. From that point of view, Nelson’s injury is more of a blow.

On the upside, youth winger Amario Cozier-Duberry has been given the chance to step up in Nelson’s place, which will be a great experience for him.