Corona Strikes Arsenal: Arteta Tests Positive
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus, throwing the club’s schedule into chaos.
Training Ground Shut Down, Staff Told to Isolate
The virus has hit hard at Arsenal’s Colney base. The club has closed its training ground, and anyone who came into close contact with Arteta – including the entire first-team squad, coaching staff, and some academy players – must self-isolate immediately.
A club spokesperson confirmed: “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.”
Premier League Emergencies and Fixture Chaos
With Arteta’s diagnosis, Arsenal’s upcoming clash against Brighton at the Amex Stadium on Saturday is in serious doubt.
An emergency Premier League meeting is set for Friday to discuss how to handle the outbreak and whether fixtures can go ahead as planned.
The club adds: “It is clear Arsenal may not be able to play some fixtures on their currently scheduled dates. The Club will update fans over the coming days.”
Deep Clean and Ongoing Precautions
Meanwhile, Arsenal is deep cleaning both the Colney and Hale End training centres. Other club facilities remain operational, with those not exposed to Arteta expected to return to work soon.
