Mikel Arteta 'feeling better' as Arsenal boss gives coronavirus update from self-isolation - 7M sport

Mikel Arteta 'feeling better' as Arsenal boss gives coronavirus update from self-isolation



Posted Saturday, March 14, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Mikel Arteta 'feeling better' as Arsenal boss gives coronavirus update from self-isolation
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta posts positive Twitter update on coronavirus diagnosis (Image: GETTY)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has spoken on Twitter after testing positive for the coronavirus on Thursday night.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has posted a fresh update on his status after being diagnosed with the coronavirus on Thursday night, insisting he is "feeling better already". The Gunners confirmed via an official statement that the Spaniard had contracted COVID-19 and was to be self-isolated.

The Premier League have since announced that all fixtures will be postponed until early April, in line with leagues across Europe.

And Arteta tweeted from his personal account on Friday afternoon: "Thanks for your words and support. Feeling better already. We’re all facing a huge & unprecedented challenge.

"Everyone’s health is all that matters right now. Protect each other by following the guidelines & we’ll come through this together.

"Well done PL for making the right decisions."

The virus has infected people in over 130 countries worldwide, with over 140,000 confirmed cases and 5,100 deaths, 10 in the UK.

And in a shock statement, Arsenal said: "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.

“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.”

The Gunners added a quote from Arteta, who said: “This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed.”

Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi is another confirmed to have contracted the virus with both the Blues and Arsenal's full first-team squads self-isolating as a precaution.

All Premier League and English Football League matches have been postponed until April 3 as things stand.

Football in England was set to be unaffected after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced at Downing Street on Thursday that the UK government is only considering banning sporting events, but that it would not yet do so in the belief it would have little effect on the spread of the illness.

A follow-up statement from the Premier League declared that all matches would be going ahead this weekend as planned.

But following the news that both Arteta and Hudson-Odoi had contracted COVID-19, Arsenal's clash with Brighton was postponed while Chelsea's match with Aston Villa was also left in major doubt.

An emergency meeting was then held by the league's powerbrokers, at which it was decided to pause all matches for a two-week period.

The Premier League said in a statement: "Following a meeting of Shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time.

"Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: 'Above all, we wish Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi speedy recoveries, and everyone else affected by COVID-19.

"In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our clubs, Government, The FA and EFL and can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority.'

"Despite the challenges, it is the Premier League's aim to reschedule the displaced fixtures, including those played by Academy sides, when it is safe to do so.

"In this fast-moving environment, further updates will be provided when appropriate."

Mikel Arteta 'feeling better' as Arsenal boss gives coronavirus update from self-isolation
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta posts positive Twitter update on coronavirus diagnosis (Image: TWITTER)

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil also used Twitter to post an update, saying on Friday afternoon: "

"Football does not matter right now. The health and wellbeing of everyone is far more important than everything else.

"Guys, take all the precautions you can - be mindful and considerate of everyone, especially those who are at high risk. #M1? (1/2)."

Ozil added: "As we go through this global issue, we should not forget to say thank you to all doctors, nurses and scientists etc worldwide, who are helping to keep this virus from spreading.

"They are under high pressure in the upcoming weeks & deserve our respect and gratitude."



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