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Arsenal offer positive Arteta update and re-open facilities


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Arsenal say their manager Mikel Arteta is in "good spirits" following his COVID-19 diagnosis and is already planning for the club's return to the field. 

It was Arteta's contracting of coronavirus that ultimately forced the Premier League's hand and suspend activities.

Football in England will remain locked down until April 30 at the earliest following a video conference involving clubs on Thursday.

In a statement on the Arsenal site, the club say, "A number of staff, including Mikel and the men’s first team squad, are currently isolating at home."

Arteta himself is said to be "feeling much better" and is already "doing detailed planning with the coaches and speaking to the players regularly."

Arsenal's women's and academy teams are also remaining at home with all players given "specific training and dietary regimes to follow at home", with regular contact made with the coaching staff.

Arteta's diagnosis led to their training facilities being closed down, but Arsenal now say, "Our training centres in London Colney and Hale End were closed for deep cleaning after Mikel’s diagnosis with the virus but have now re-opened with a small workforce to maintain the facilities and training pitches."

The news of Arteta's recovery and the slow preparing for a return to normality will come as a huge boost to Arsenal supporters and indeed all those patiently waiting for football to come out of the pandemic shutdown.

Arsenal also say they're doing their part to look after businesses that would be affected as a result of the club's dormant period, "We continue to support our local Islington community in these difficult times and we are in discussions with local groups to find new ways to support our most vulnerable groups as the situation develops.

"We are liaising with the local authority and the areas being explored range from providing online coaching and teaching, and staff volunteering to have regular phone contact with elderly local people feeling isolated. We are also looking into how we can support our casual workers."


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