Arsenal Manager, Arteta, Is Coronavirus-Positive

By Akinwale Kasali

The soccer community is in a dilemma, following the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus rocking the world. Different European Leagues have been  called off to curtail the spread of the disease.

That, sadly,  was not enough to save Arsenal Football Club Manager, Mikel Arteta. He has contracted the deadly Covid-19 disease, and has been quarantined.

Arteta confirmed his status Thursday night, March 12, after feeling unwell.

The magazine gathered that the Arsenal Manager and other members of the Arsenal playing staff have been on self-isolation on medical advice, after Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest Football Club owner, Evangelos Maranikis, which Arsenal played in the Europa league, contacted   the virus.

Arteta is however optimistic that he would be back soonest.

“This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly.

I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed,” said the 37 year-old Spanish Arteta.

The Gunners, as Arsenal Football Club is called has closed their training ground.  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.

The English Premier League club revealed they have closed their London Colney training ground after the result.

“Our London Colney training centre has been closed after head coach Mikel Arteta received a positive COVID-19 result this evening.

“Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal expects a “significant number of people” will self-isolate, including first-team staff and coaches.

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

“We are in active dialogue with relevant people to manage this situation appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows.”

Arsenal is due to play at Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Meanwhile, Manchester City Football Club defender, Benjamin Mendy, is self-isolating as a precaution after a member of his family was admitted to hospital displaying symptoms of coronavirus, this is even as three Leicester City first-team players have also self-isolated after showing symptoms of coronavirus.