PL call emergency meeting after Arsenal confirm Arteta has coronavirus

Ian Watson

Arsenal have announced their manager Mikel Arteta has contracted coronavirus and the whole first-team squad has been placed in self-isolation.

Less than an hour after the Premier League released a statement saying that matches would go ahead as usual this weekend, Arsenal issued an update of their own revealing that Arteta had tested positive for the virus.

A club statement read: “Our London Colney training centre has been closed after head coach Mikel Arteta received a positive Covid-19 result this evening.

“Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines.

“We expect this to be a significant number of people from Colney, including the full first-team squad and coaching staff.”

Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham said: “The health of our people and the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is.

“Our thoughts are with Mikel who is disappointed but in good spirits. We are in active dialogue with all the relevant people to manage this situation appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows.”

Arsenal are now trying to trace any other people who may have had contact with Arteta. Their statement added it was “clear we will not be able to play some fixtures on their currently scheduled dates”.

The Gunners were due to travel to travel to Brighton on Saturday.

The Premier League quickly responded to the development concerning Arteta.

A statement read: “In light of Arsenal’s announcement tonight confirming that their first team coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID-19, the Premier League will convene an emergency club meeting tomorrow morning (Friday) regarding future fixtures.”

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