Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tests positive for COVID-19
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing the Premier League to reconsider playing this weekend’s matches.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID-19, the club announced on Thursday, drawing into question whether or not the Premier League will go forward with this weekend’s matches amid concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The club’s statement said that “Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines.” That group includes “the full first-team squad and coaching staff.” The club’s training facilities have been closed down for a deep clean.
In the statement, 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.”
Arsenal were scheduled to play away at Brighton on Saturday. The announcement could, however, cause a reversal in the Premier League’s stance on playing this weekend’s games.
Earlier on Thursday, the Premier League had put out a statement saying that this weekend’s matches would still go ahead and still be played in front of fans, despite opposite trends everywhere else in the world.
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In the wake of the Arsenal announcement, however, the Premier League announced that they will “convene an emergency club meeting tomorrow morning regarding future fixtures.”
Arsenal already had a midweek match postponed due to the coronavirus, after club had faced Olympiacos in the Europa League and some of the Gunners’ players were in contact with that club’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, who tested positive.
Across Europe, La Liga and Serie A have already called off upcoming matches, while the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 plan to play behind closed doors if at all. In the U.S. on Thursday, Major League Soccer announced that its season would suspend matches for 30 days.
The spread of COVID-19 has hit soccer especially hard worldwide, with a Juventus player testing positive, UEFA Champions League matches being played behind closed doors or called off and closed-door matches or cancellations announced in many other leagues.
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For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.