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Arteta says Arsenal looking to loan players out as Kolasinac joins Schalke

Football

By Reuters | Jan 01, 2021

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta walks onto the pitch to congratulate his players after the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at the Emirates stadium in London, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. Arsenal won the game 3-1. [Adrian Dennis/ Pool via AP]

Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac has rejoined Schalke 04 on loan for the remainder of the season with manager Mikel Arteta saying on Thursday that more players are likely to leave on loan as they aim to trim their large squad.

Kolasinac, signed from Schalke in 2017, made only one league appearance this season and was used mainly in cup competitions such as the Europa League and League Cup.

"There are a lot of players that are going to go on loan... that's the priority at the moment because we cannot sustain the numbers that we have in certain positions," Arteta told reporters ahead of Saturday's trip to West Bromwich Albion.

"We're looking to do that. And then we will see if we have the right opportunities in the positions that we need some more help, we're working with the club to try to address them.

"We have had some conversations around a few players and whether we can find some loans."

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Arteta also said there was no need for a temporary halt to the season after surging infections in the league led to a third match being called off on Wednesday.

Arsenal's Sead Kolasinac, right, battles for the ball with Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez during the English League Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Emirates Stadium, London, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. [AP Photo/Frank Augstein]

Fulham requested their game at Tottenham Hotspur to be postponed due to an outbreak at the club, two days after Manchester City's game at Everton was also called off.

West Brom boss Sam Allardyce wanted a pause in the season to act as a "circuit break" but Arteta, who contracted the virus in March, said the show must go on.

"All the protocols we have in place, everything we do around the training ground (and) matches, the fact that we play our game outside, it minimises the risk a lot," Arteta said.

"We're going to have more restrictions I think, we're going to have more tests to try to be as efficient as we were before and we will see. But I think it will work and I think we can carry on doing it."