12 Mar Arsenal shut down as manager tests positive, Man City defender in self-isolation

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive to coronavirus.

The Premier League club has confirmed that its London Colney training centre has been closed down after Arteta returned a positive COVID-19 result.

Club officials and personnel who have been in contact with the Spaniard in recent days will now be forced to self-isolate.

A club statement reads: “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, as well as a smaller number of people from our Hale End Academy which we have also temporarily closed as a precaution.

“We expect those who did not have close contact with Mikel to return to work in the coming days. In the meantime our Colney and Hale End training centres will undergo a deep clean and our other club sites are operating as normal.

“We are now working to trace any other people who have had recent close contact with Mikel. We will let them know what has happened and they should follow the NHS guidance which is likely to recommend self-isolation.”

Additionally, Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is in self-isolation as a precaution after one of his family members underwent hospital tests after experiencing symptoms of the virus.

At this stage, Premier League fixtures are set to go ahead this weekend.