Arsenal Vs Man City: Arteta Tests Positive For COVID-19 Ahead Of EPL Clash

Arsenal club manager, Mikel Arteta has been confirmed positive for the dreaded COVID-19 disease.

Arteta’s COVID-19 result is coming ahead of Arsenal’s English Premier League match against Manchester City scheduled for Saturday, December 1, Naija News observed.

It’s the second time the 39-year-old Spaniard coach is testing positive with the infection.

Arteta’s first positive test was announced in March 2020, one of the development which prompted English football to shut down as the pandemic surged.

He is the latest Premier League manager to test positive in the last few weeks following Aston Villa’s Steven Gerrard and Patrick Vieira of Crystal Palace.

Confirming Arteta’s status in an official statement on Wednesday, Arsenal said, “Mikel Arteta will miss our match against Manchester City on New Year’s Day after testing positive for COVID-19.

“Mikel is isolating in line with Government guidelines and we wish him well.”

Confirming the report himself in an interview earlier, Arteta said: “This is really disappointing.

“I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed.”

Reports reaching us at Naija News today have it that Arsenal have closed the club’s London Colney training ground and club staff who had recent contact with Arteta will now self isolate.

Assistants Albert Stuivenberg and Steve Round will be in charge on match day.

Meanwhile, Manchester United are set to battle for three points with Burnley in the English Premier League match scheduled for Thursday, December 30th, Naija News reports.

The Red Devils, however, confirmed in an official statement on Wednesday that three key players will miss out on the home game.

While expressing hope of defeating the visiting club in their last game of the year, United disclosed that the likes of Victor Lindelof, Paul Pogba, and Bruno Fernandes would not be featured in the match.

The statement issued on the club’s official website on Wednesday reads: “We can confirm that the Reds will be without at least three players for the Burnley clash,” United said.