Two Anglo-Nigerian Players Will Not Train With Arsenal For 14 Days As Arteta Tests Positive For Coronavirus

Published: March 13, 2020

Professional footballers are no exception to the Covid-19 epidemic, with at least two players of Nigerian descent to be quarantined for fourteen days after Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday evening, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Bukayo Saka trained with the first team this week under the guidance of the Spanish football tactician and another Hale End Academy product in Miguel Azeez was invited to train with the first team on Tuesday, March 10 and had close contact with the Spaniard.

With Arsenal first team players not expected to resume training until March 27 or thereabout, Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton & Hove and the FA Cup fixture at Sheffield United have been postponed.

"Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines," the Gunners said in a statement published on their official website, arsenal.com.

"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. "

For the moment, the matches of the Premier League this weekend have not been postponed.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com