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Arsenal players in self isolat...

Coronavirus

Arsenal players in self isolation, game vs Manchester City postponed

Rebecca Noonan
Rebecca Noonan

06:29 10 Mar 2020


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Arsenal's Premier League clash with Manchester City due to take place tonight is now OFF - because of cornavirus.

Several Arsenal players came into contact with the owner of the Greek side Olympiacos, Evangelos Marinakis, at the north London club last month.

Marinakis has tested positive for Covid-19.

The Gunners haven't confirmed the amount of players who had met Marinakis after their Europa League tie on February 27th - but those players are now in self isolation as a precaution.

The game will be rearranged, however no date has yet been confirmed.

A statement from Arsenal read

"Our Premier League match with Manchester City on Wednesday night has been postponed.

Following yesterday's news that Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis has recently contracted Covid-19, we have been taking medical advice and tracing any individuals who had what the guidelines define as close contact with him at the game 13 days ago. 

As a result of this exercise we identified that a number of players met the Olympiacos owner immediately following the game. 

The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing Covid-19 at extremely low. However, we are strictly following the Government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact. 

As a result, the players are unavailable for tonight's match against Manchester City and the Premier League has decided the game should be postponed.

The players will remain at their homes until the 14-day period expires. Four Arsenal staff - who were sitting close to Mr Marinakis during the match - will also remain at home until the 14 days are complete.

We fully understand how disappointing this is for our supporters, in particular those who were travelling to Manchester for tonight's match. Tickets will be valid for the match when it's rearranged.

As a further precautionary measure, whilst we do not believe there was any close contact with any other Arsenal guests or staff in the directors box restaurant, we are contacting them to advise they should follow the relevant advice if there has been any such contact. 

Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Mr Marinakis a swift recovery and we look forward to the players and staff returning to work on Friday in preparation for our match at Brighton."

Meanwhile Wolves say playing their Europa League tie at Olympiakos tomorrow is an "unnecessary risk".

It's after the Greek club's owner Evangelos Marinakis tested positive for coronavirus.

The Premier League side have had a request to postpone the match in Athens rejected by Uefa.

The fixture's already being played behind closed doors.


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