CORONAVIRUS has opened scary old wounds for Arsenal hero Peter Marinello.
The Scottish winger, once famously dubbed the next George Best, knows what it is like to be put into self-isolation from a serious illness.
Former Arsenal striker Peter Marinello played for the Gunners between 1970-1973Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Arsenal’s club-record £100,000 signing was confined to his London home for ten days when the Gunners were hit with a yellow jaundice scare.
Marinello, now 70, was battling for his first-team place at the time in the famous 1970-71 double-winning side and the last thing he needed was to be isolated.
But he emerged unscathed from the ordeal to play one of his best games in an Arsenal shirt against Ajax in the European Cup.
Marinello admitted: “This coronavirus scare has brought back quite a few memories — some bad, some good.
“I used to be driven to the club by my friend Geoff Barnet, the reserve keeper.
“Sadly, Geoff got ill and had early signs of yellow jaundice, which is very contagious, so the club doctor told me to go home and stay away.
“I didn’t catch it and was picked to play in a reserve game at Gillingham. We were 6-1 up and Steve Burtenshaw, the first-team coach, took me off after an hour, which annoyed me.
Marinello, 70, played 51 times for the North London side in all competitions – scoring five timesCredit: Getty – Contributor
“But Steve said, ‘Pete, you’re playing against Ajax on Tuesday in the European Cup quarter-finals’. I was lost for words.”
Ajax arrived in London boasting a team full of stars, including Johan Cruyff. He added: “I had hardly trained and was facing one of the world’s best sides!
“I had one of my best games for Arsenal against a team that won the cup. But we lost to a George Graham own goal.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus after he admitted to feeling poorly
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
