Coronavirus: Premier League clubs to meet after Arsenal’s Arteta tests positive

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for the coronavirus, the club said on Thursday, prompting the Premier League to announce an emergency meeting on Friday.

Arsenal’s first-team squad are set to self-isolate as a result of Arteta’s status and the club’s Hale End training centre has been temporarily closed.

Brighton & Hove Albion, who were scheduled to play Arsenal on Saturday, announced that the match had been postponed.

The Premier League had issued a statement earlier on Thursday saying that “all Premier League matches will go ahead as scheduled this weekend” but they are facing pressure to suspend the season.

“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,” Arsenal said in a statement.

The Arsenal announcement came after Spanish club Real Madrid said on Thursday that their team were in quarantine after one of the club’s basketball players tested positive.

Players and staff of Italian champions Juventus are also in quarantine after defender Daniele Rugani tested positive on Wednesday.

Arteta, 37, who joined Arsenal in December after working as assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, said he had felt ill prior to taking the test.

“This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed,” he said.

Arsenal’s Premier League game at Manchester City scheduled for Wednesday was postponed after the owner of Greek club Olympiakos, who the Gunners played in the Europa League, had contracted the virus.

Arsenal said a number of their players had met Evangelos Marinakis after the game on February 27.

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