Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta Tests Positive For Coronavirus

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID-19 the club has announced. The announcement comes just an hour following the Premier League’s decision to go ahead as planned this weekend without any changes.

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

The League called an emergency meeting for the following morning after the news of Arteta’s positive result where club owners will meet to discuss the future of the 2020 season.

The Premier League will convene an emergency club meeting tomorrow morning regarding fixtures after Mikel Arteta tested positive for COVID-19

Statement: https://t.co/ofi5DhIQZM pic.twitter.com/RmnxRHXooz

— Premier League (@premierleague) March 12, 2020

Following Arteta’s positive result, the Arsenal training facility was shut down and “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,” the club said in a statement.

Club statement: COVID-19

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 12, 2020

The news comes after reports that three Leicester City players were tested after gathering symptoms while the entire Real Madrid squad is self-isolating after a basketball player who trains at the same complex tested positive for the virus.

La Liga and Serie A have suspended play while Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga are playing games with no spectators.