Positive Covid-19 test threw Arsenal’s preparations for Man City game into disarray
An Arsenal player tested positive for Covid-19 a few days prior to Arsenal’s first game back in the Premier League against Manchester City, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.
It is understood that this player along with two other members of the squad who were in close contact with the former missed three days of training as a result of the positive test.
A follow up test on the eve of the Premier League restart found that none of the three players had the coronavirus and they were cleared to play the game at the Etihad Stadium. All three members of the Arsenal squad featured in Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat to City.
This bombshell is the latest in a series of crises that the Gunners have had to deal with in recent days. In their opening game against the reigning Premier League champions, Pablo Mari suffered an ankle injury that has prematurely ended his season.
Granit Xhaka succumbed to an injury in the same game and is facing a spell on the sidelines. Brazilian centre back David Luiz, who was Mari’s replacement at the Etihad, made errors that led to City’s first two goals in a 3-0 win and his dismissal from the game, forcing Arsenal to play almost an entire half with 10 men. Luiz is currently serving a three-match ban.
Three days later, the Gunners travelled to the AmEx stadium to take on Brighton. Bernd Leno, Arsenal’s goalkeeper and one of the club’s best players of the season, suffered a horrific knee injury and had to be taken off. The German looks set for a long spell on the sidelines.
Leno’s injury was the worst news of the afternoon for Arsenal but matters were made worse when Brighton scored a last gasp winner to condemn the Gunners to their second defeat in three days. Arsenal are yet to pick up a single point since the Premier League campaign restarted.
Mikel Arteta takes his side to St. Mary’s Stadium to take on Southampton on Thursday. The Gunners will be looking to get back to winning ways and put the chaos of the last week behind them.
