ARSENAL first team manager, Mikel Arteta, has said he was surprised the opening fixture of the Premier League was not postponed, despite COVID-19 outbreak in the squad.
Arsenal started the season with a 2-0 lose to Brentford last week Friday. Captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, striker Alexander Lacazete, Winger Willian and goal Keeper Runnarson where all absent from the fixture and it was later revealed that they had tested positive to COVID-19.
Speaking this Friday morning Arteta said he was surprised the match was not postponed after the outbreak.
" I was surprised, but the regulators decided that the best thing to do was to play the game," said Arteta at his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's visit to the Emirates on Sunday.
"We did what we had to do through the club, through the club doctor, how things developed and the risk we could see there."
Good for Arsenal, Aubameyang and Willian have now tested negative and could be available for selection against Chelsea on Sunday.
