Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tests positive for the coronavirus AGAIN

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, whose positive Covid test in March 2020 triggered the shutdown of the Premier League, tests positive for the virus AGAIN and will miss their clash with league leaders Manchester City on New Year’s Day

  • Mikel Arteta has tested positive for Covid for a second time, the club announced 
  • The Spaniard first caught the virus in March 2020 before football’s shutdown
  • The 39-year-old will miss Arsenal’s New Year’s Day clash with Manchester City  

Mikel Arteta will miss Arsenal’s New Year’s Day clash with Manchester City after testing positive for Covid, nearly two years on from first contracting the virus. 

The Spaniard previously tested positive in March 2020, shortly before English football was shutdown as the country tried to get a grip of the pandemic.

And Arsenal have confirmed that the manager will not be on the touchline for their game with the Premier League leaders at the Emirates Stadium having tested positive again. 

Mikel Arteta will miss Arsenal’s New Year’s Day clash with City after testing positive for Covid

The Gunners were due to play Wolves on Tuesday but the game was postponed after the Molineux outfit were unable to field a side owing to Covid cases and injuries to Bruno Lage’s squad. 

Arteta’s positive test is a setback for the Arsenal boss with his side in a rich vein of form. The Gunners moved into the top four last week after beating West Ham and have won their last five games in all competitions. 

Omicron, the ultra-infectious new Covid variant, has wreaked havoc across the football calendar in recent weeks, with infections rising at alarming rates. As a result, there are teams who find themselves with as many as three games in hand. 

Arteta previously tested positive for the virus in March 2020 leading to football’s shutdown 

Arsenal are in a rich vein of form and Arteta’s positive test presents a setback for the club

Boxing Day’s blockbuster line-up of matches was almost decimated by the virus, after three were called off – namely Liverpool’s clash with Leeds, Wolves’ showdown with Watford and Everton’s trip to Burnley.

This week’s round of midweek games have also been affected, with Arsenal v Wolves, Everton v Newcastle and Leeds v Aston Villa also postponed.   

Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel and Ralf Rangnick have called for measures to be introduced to allow Premier League clubs to navigate the busy winter schedule and the problems that the pandemic pose.

All three bosses believe that a return to five substitutes should be granted, with arguments surrounding players’ welfare posed.  

FULL LIST OF PL POSTPONEMENTS

Brighton vs Tottenham

Brentford vs Manchester Utd

Burnley vs Watford

Leicester vs Tottenham

Manchester Utd vs Brighton

Southampton vs Brentford

Watford vs Crystal Palace

West Ham vs Norwich

Everton vs Leicester

Aston Villa vs Burnley

Liverpool vs Leeds

Wolves vs Watford 

Burnley vs Everton

Leeds vs Aston Villa

Arsenal vs Wolves

Everton vs Newcastle 

 




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