Coronavirus: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta 'feeling better already'
- Published
Mikel Arteta's positive coronavirus test result was announced on Thursday
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he is "feeling better already" after testing positive for coronavirus.
The Gunners have closed their training ground, while staff who had recent contact with Arteta are self-isolating.
"Thanks for your words and support," the Spaniard, 37, wrote on Twitter. "We're all facing a huge and unprecedented challenge.
"Everyone's health is all that matters right now. Protect each other by following the guidelines," he added.
"We'll come through this together."
All elite football in Britain has been suspended until at least 3 April as a result of the pandemic and Arteta added in his tweet: "Well done [the] Premier League for making the right decisions."
Football's suspension in Britain comes on a day of widespread sporting postponements worldwide.
The London Marathon has been moved from 26 April to 4 October, with the Manchester and Brighton Marathons also postponed.
Uefa has postponed next week's Champions League and Europa League fixtures.
In rugby union, Saturday's Six Nations match between Wales and Scotland has been postponed, as has Sunday's Premiership Cup final between Sale and Harlequins.
Golf's opening major of the year, the Masters, is postponed.
Cycling's Giro d'Italia, scheduled to start in Hungary in May, has been called off.
England's Test cricket series in Sri Lanka has been cancelled.
Formula 1 has called off the Vietnam Grand Prix on 5 April.
Formula E is suspended for two months, affecting races in Paris, Seoul and Jakarta.
Arsenal expect a "significant number of people" will self-isolate, including the full first-team squad.
"The health of our people and the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is," said Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham on Thursday.
"We are in active dialogue with all the relevant people to manage this situation appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows."
Several Gunners players went into self-isolation after Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis contracted coronavirus.
Arsenal said Marinakis, 52, met a number of their players when the Gunners hosted the Greek side in a Europa League match on 20 February.
The Gunners had said on Wednesday that no players or staff would be tested for coronavirus.
Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is self-isolating as a precaution after a member of his family was admitted to hospital displaying symptoms of coronavirus.
Three Leicester City first-team players have also self-isolated after showing symptoms of coronavirus.
Football has been suspended in Italy, Spain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and the USA.