Premier League: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tests positive for coronavirus

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday evening and the Premier League decided to postpone the Gunners' match at Brighton on Saturday. Arsenal have closed their training ground and club staff who had recent contact with Arteta will now self-isolate for two weeks, which means all the club's matches during this period will be postponed or cancelled. 

"This is really disappointing," said Arteta. "I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I'm allowed." The whole Arsenal squad is now expected to go in self-isolation. "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. "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." 

Arsenal already had a match postponed this week, their Premier League game at Manchester City was called off was as a "precautionary measure" and several players went into self-isolation after Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis contracted coronavirus. Marinakis met a number of the Arsenal players when they hosted the Greek side in a Europa League match two weeks ago. 

Moreover, Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus early on Friday morning. Chelsea say he "displayed symptoms similar to a mild cold on Monday morning" and stayed away from the the training ground, but the whole squad might have to go in self-isolation as well.