The entire Arsenal first team are in isolation after their coach, Mikel Arteta tested positive to the dreaded coronavirus. Arteta said: ‘This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed.’
He, and the entire first-team squad and coaching staff will now be self-isolating in accordance with the most recent government guidelines.Arsenal played Olympiacos in the Europa League a couple of weeks ago, and since then the Greek club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis has tested positive for the virus.
Wolves’ match against Olympiacos on Thursday evening was played behind closed doors as a precaution.
Arsenal have closed down the London Colney training centre after the manager received a postitive covid-19 result on Thursday evening.
First team players participated in a training session there on Tuesday afternoon. A number of people from the Hale End Academy will also be in self-isolation, and the facility has been closed as a precaution as well. Both training centres will undergo a deep clean.
Anyone who has not come into close contact with Arteta is expected to return to work within the next few days.
The news came less than an hour after the Premier League announced that this weekend’s fixtures would be going ahead as planned.
However, in the light of this development, the Premier League will now be holding an emergency meeting on Friday morning regarding future fixtures.
Over the past week, Arsenal have played against Portsmouth in the FA Cup, and West Ham in the Premier League.
Handshakes were banned for the Premier League match, however Arteta still came into physical contact with a number of people during the game.
He fist bumped Bukayo Saka at full-time, and also embraced assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg. Juventus revealed on Thursday that 121 people, including players, directors, and staff are now in self-isolation after defender Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus.