Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss the club’s Premier League match on New Year’s Day against league leaders Manchester City.
Arteta is now “isolating in accordance with Government rules,” according to the Gunners.
Arteta is not the first EPL manager to miss a match due to COVID-19, with Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira unable to oversee Crystal Palace’s last two games.
In England and Wales, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to self-isolate for the next 10 days. If the person is initially asymptomatic, the 10-day period will begin again if symptoms develop later.
If the person has no symptoms and can report negative rapid lateral flow on days six and seven of the isolation period, general isolation can be reduced to just seven days.
With more precise PCR tests, football clubs will be able to better monitor the health of their players and personnel, ensuring that infection risk is kept to a minimum.
Arsenal’s most recent match was against Norwich on Boxing Day, with the Gunners’ match against Wolves slated for Tuesday night being postponed as a result.
The Spaniard will be back in time to lead his club in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool on January 6 if he isolates for only seven days.
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