Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus and the club’s game against Brighton on Saturday has been postponed.
Arteta, 37, became the first confirmed member of staff of a Premier League team to contract the disease, which was officially labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on Wednesday. The Gunners have closed their training ground and club staff who had recent contact with Arteta will now self-isolate.
The Premier League will hold “an emergency club meeting” on Friday to discuss future fixtures.”This is really disappointing,” said Spaniard Arteta, 37.”I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed.”
Arsenal expects a “significant number of people” will self-isolate, including the “full first-team squad”.The club were due to face Brighton in the Premier League at Amex Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT) but Brighton released a statement, shortly after confirmation of Arteta’s positive test, announcing that the game had been called off.
