Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta tests positive for coronavirus

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has been tested positive for Covid 19. 

“Our London Colney training centre has been closed after head coach Mikel Arteta received a positive COVID-19 result this evening,” read an official Arsenal statement.

“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.”

Earlier in the evening, following prime minister Boris Johnson’s speech, the Premier League confirmed that all ten Premier League fixtures were due to go ahead as scheduled this weekend, although the latest development may change this.

“In light of Arsenal’s announcement tonight,” read a Premier League statement.

“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.”

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

“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.”

“This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly,” Arteta himself said.

“I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed.”