sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Has Tested Positive For Coronavirus

Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Has Tested Positive For Coronavirus

The club have confirmed the news.

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Arsenal have confirmed that manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus and the club's game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday has been postponed.

The Gunners made a statement on Thursday evening which read:

"Our London Colney training centre has been closed after head coach Mikel Arteta received a positive COVID-19 result this evening.

Image
PA

"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, as well as a smaller number of people from our Hale End Academy which we have also temporarily closed as a precaution.

"We expect those who did not have close contact with Mikel to return to work in the coming days. In the meantime our Colney and Hale End training centres will undergo a deep clean and our other club sites are operating as normal."

Arteta commented on his diagnosis and explained he is disappointed but looking to forward to returning to work as soon as possible.

The Spaniard stated: "This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I'm allowed."

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.

"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."

The club have also explained they will be unable to play some of their upcoming games due to the diagnosis.

Image
PA

The Premier League had announced earlier in the evening that this weekend's action would go ahead as planned despite growing fears of the virus.

However, it was later followed up with the confirmation that an emergency meeting will be held on Friday following the news of Arteta's diagnosis.

The 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 regarding future fixtures.

"The Premier League will make no further comment until after that meeting."

Featured Image Credit: