Manchester City vs Arsenal postponed due to coronavirus concerns as Arsenal players self-isolate after meeting infected Olympiakos owner
Wednesday 11 March 2020 20:24, UK
As Manchester City vs Arsenal becomes the first major sporting event in Britain to be called off as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, here's all you need to know.
A number of Arsenal players and staff have been forced to self-isolate after meeting Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who revealed on Tuesday he had contracted COVID-19.
The Gunners have stressed the decision is a precautionary measure - with a handshake understood to have been key to concerns.
Sky Sports News' Dharmesh Sheth said: "We've been told that none of the Arsenal players that were in contact with Marinakis were in prolonged contact with Marinakis. One player did, however, shake hands with the Olympiakos owner, and that has led to this situation."
Although the risk of infection is said to be extremely low, they are strictly following government guidelines which state anyone who has come into contact with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days.
The game with Olympiakos took place on February 27 - 13 days ago - so the players in question, and four members of staff who were sitting close to Marinakis during the match, remain at home and unavailable.
Arsenal have not tested their players or staff for the coronavirus but that would change in the unlikely event of anyone showing symptoms. The club continues to follow Government advice.
Following medical advice, Arsenal and Manchester City consider it necessary to postpone their fixture. The short notice of Mr Marinakis' infection means there is no alternative but to take the time to complete a proper assessment of risk
Arsenal revealed "a number of players" met the Olympiakos owner immediately after the game but are yet to confirm exact numbers of those in self-isolation.
However, Arsenal's first-team players were not training on Wednesday after being given a day off following the postponement.
At this stage, a new date for the Manchester City vs Arsenal fixture remains unclear.
The Premier League has revealed it currently has no plans to postpone any other matches, but with the fixture schedule already congested, the calendar may have to be rearranged to accommodate the rescheduled fixture.
City and Arsenal have confirmed tickets will be valid for the rearranged fixture.
With contact with Marinakis occurring on 13 days ago, players and staff will be able to return to work on Friday if they do not show any symptoms when the 14-day self-isolation period ends on Thursday.
It means that, as things stand, Saturday's Premier League match at Brighton goes ahead as scheduled.
Yes, but only on the condition that they were symptom-free at the end of the 14-day self-isolation period.
If the affected players are symptom-free at the end of Thursday, they are free to return to training on Friday and would be available for Saturday's trip to the AMEX Stadium.
Their participation would rest with Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, who is expected to provide an update on his squad when he speaks to the media at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
As this stage, the Premier League insists it has no plans to postpone any other matches.
English clubs have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak in European competition this week though, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Wolves and Rangers all due to play behind closed doors.
Forest are due to play Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough in the Championship on Saturday, with the South Yorkshire club understood to be in dialogue with Forest and the English Football League concerning the match, but Forest have since confirmed no one at the club has tested positive for coronavirus.
Arsenal's previous opponents have also come under scrutiny.
"Another issue that has come up following the postponement is the fact Arsenal have played two games since the Olympiakos game - against Portsmouth in the FA Cup and West Ham in the Premier League," said Sheth.
"At this stage, though, that is not thought to pose an issue as there are no coronavirus cases at Arsenal."
The postponement of Manchester City's fixture with Arsenal has not changed the fact that Liverpool still need just six points to the win the Premier League.
The postponement does mean the Reds will no longer be able to win the title without kicking a ball, but it does open up the possibility of being crowned champions at Goodison Park.
If Manchester City lose to Burnley on Saturday, Liverpool will need just three points to clinch the title and could win it with victory over Everton in the Merseyside derby on Monday Night Football, live on Sky Sports.
