Mikel Arteta's tests positive for COVID-19

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has tested for coronavirus and the results are positive and now the Premier League game against Brighton has been canceled.

The Gunners head coach will have to self - isolate following the government guidelines, it is expected that the coaching staff will do the same. There are already several Arsenal players in self-isolation after having contact with Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis who also tested positive.

Arsenal should have gone to Brighton for the Saturday fixture, but as it has come clear the game will be postponed. The Premier League has planned that the fixtures will be played as scheduled, but after the coronavirus outbreak they will have a meeting on Friday morning to determine what are going to be their next steps.

After Arteta's positive test was confirmed on Thursday and he made a statement saying: "This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I'm allowed."

Vinai Venkatesham, the managing director, also made a statement about the situation saying: "The health of our people and the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is.

"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."

Just hours after Arteta's has been tested positive, Chelsea confirmed that their winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has also been tested positive for COVID-19.

However, Manchester City's game against Arsenal was the first postponed match in the Premier League due to a coronavirus.

Other nations announced that they would be suspending their leagues for two or more weeks, but from the Premier League a statement just prior to Arteta's confirmation on coronavirus to say that matches this weekend would go ahead as planned.