Coronavirus

ARSENAL were forced to close their academy on Wednesday after a senior member of staff tested positive for coronavirus.
The Hale End facility, renovated in 2017 and home to the youngsters aged nine to 16, was shut down in the afternoon when the result came back.

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Arsenal were forced to close their Hale End academy after a positive coronavirus test result on WednesdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

A deep clean will take place on the site on Thursday with Arsenal yet to decide when coaches and players will be able to return.
According to The Athletic, the club employee travelled abroad and headed back to Hale End before receiving their coronavirus test result.
Staff were reportedly emailed of developments on Wednesday evening with none permitted on site ‘until further notice’.

An Arsenal statement read: “We can confirm that a member of staff from our Hale End Academy has tested positive for Covid-19.
“The positive test result arrived at 5pm today and the member of staff immediately left the site to self-isolate.
“As a consequence, six other members of staff are now self-isolating and we have initiated track and trace for the entire site.
“We are working through our CCTV and attendance records on site in order to continue the track and trace process.

“Our Hale End Academy will now be closed on Thursday 8 October for deep cleaning.

“After Thursday, we will review our coaching plans at Hale End accordingly and will keep all staff, parents and young players fully informed.
“The health and safety of everyone on all our sites is our paramount concern.
“No members of our men’s or women’s first-team squads have been affected.”
It is the latest coronavirus issue surrounding Arsenal, whose boss Mikel Arteta was the first Premier League player or manager to catch the virus back in March leading to the season being suspended.
The club today demanded government answers after Kieran Tierney was told to self-isolate for 14 days following Scotland team-mate Stuart Armstrong’s positive test.
The left-back, 23, and Celtic’s Ryan Christie were ordered to quarantine because they spent time playing PlayStation games in the same room as Southampton star Armstrong on Monday.
But ‘frustrated’ Tierney – who has tested negative – insists he has not broken any coronavirus rules and Arsenal want answers over why he has been targeted.
The Gunners are now desperately trying get permission for Tierney – who now faces missing the crucial Premier League clash at Manchester City on October 17 – to travel back to London.

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FURIOUS Arsenal are demanding a  government probe after  Kieran Tierney was caught up in a Scottish Covid-19 outbreak.
Health chiefs have ordered the £25million full-back to self-isolate in Scotland for 14 days following countryman Stuart Armstrong’s positive test for the virus.

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Kieran Tierney has been told he must self-isolate for 14 days but Arsenal are seeking clarificationCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow

Tierney and Celtic’s Ryan Christie have both been told to quarantine because they spent time playing PlayStation games in the same room as  Southampton midfielder Armstrong on Monday.
But “frustrated” Tierney – who has tested negative – insists he has not broken any coronavirus rules and Arsenal want answers over why he has been targeted.
The Gunners are now desperately trying get permission for  Tierney – who now faces missing the crucial Premier League clash at Manchester City on October 17 – to travel back to London.
Stunned Tierney, 23, said: “I’m so disappointed and frustrated to be in this situation.

“I have adhered to all regulations and made sure I was socially distancing from my team-mates in the hotel.
“I have also tested negative for Covid and I know that Arsenal and the SFA are now in discussions with the Scottish authorities to gain a further understanding.”
Armstrong provided a positive test to the Scotland team doctor ahead of their crucial Euro qualifier against Israel tonight.
Celtic are also fuming Christie has been told to quarantine.

An Arsenal spokesman said: “Our medical team have confirmed that Kieran was socially distant at all times from the player who tested positive and has broken no rules regarding Covid-19 protocols.
“We are currently seeking further advice and clarification of the details.”
A Celtic spokesman added: “Ryan has reiterated his adherence to all relevant protocols while on international duty.

“In light of this, Celtic aim to open dialogue with the Scottish Government to fully understand the self-isolation procedures for those players who continue to deliver negative test results, as Ryan has.”
Tierney still has a property in the Glasgow area from his time as a Celtic player and has been told to stay in the house and not have contact with anyone.
But because the player has already provided three negative coronavirus tests this week and another which shows he has developed antibodies to the illness, Arsenal are hoping to get authorisation to get him back to London in a private car.
Arsenal’s medical team are understood to be deeply unhappy with the developments because they have worked so hard to protect the squad since manager Mikel Arteta became the first football figure to go down with the virus back in March.
Ironically, Arteta had warned the return of international duty could be “bad news” as  players  leave the Premier League’s Covid-19 bubble, adding: “We all know the issue is still there when everyone has to fly away to  different countries.”
The club take on Manchester City in a crunch clash on October 17, just ten days away, with Tierney currently set to be unavailable.
Ironically, Armstrong must only self-isolate for ten days from yesterday meaning he could turn out for Southampton at Chelsea on the same day.

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Stuart Armstrong, left, returned a positive test but Ryan Christie, right, tested negativeCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
As well as the three players, a physio from the Scottish FA and a masseur who were in contact with Armstrong have also been ordered to self-isolate for two weeks.
It is understood that the Scottish FA have apologised to Arsenal and manager Steve Clarke said: “While this is obviously disappointing news, the most important thing is the health and safety of the individuals involved and the wider group.
“As soon as we were informed of the positive test, the chief medical consultant immediately contacted the Scottish Government’s clinical adviser, who alerted the local health protection team.
“We have informed the respective clubs from whom we have borrowed the players and backroom staff and we now have to prepare for a huge match ahead.”

Meanwhile, Southampton have told their players who have not gone away on international duty to train at home today in light of  Armstrong’s positive test.
That will allow a deep-clean of the club’s Staplewood training ground to be carried out.
Southampton said in a statement: “The club are taking sensible precautions at Staplewood Campus whilst offering Stuart our full support.”

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EDINSON CAVANI has revealed he nearly quit football after his girlfriend contracted coronavirus.
Manchester United’s Deadline Day signing declared: “Your family’s health comes first.

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Edinson Cavani considered quitting football when his girlfriend Jocelyn Burgardt caught coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“Of course, I considered the idea of quitting football.
“We have suffered through the coronavirus with my family and with my girlfriend.”
Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Cavani, 33, signed a £200,000-a-week 12-month Old Trafford contract with a further 12-month option.

His model girlfriend Jocelyn Burgardt tested positive for the virus shortly after he was released by PSG in June.

And in an interview with Argentine radio, Cavani added: “The truth is that it was bad because of the fear that it awakens. Thank God we recovered well and evolved well and here we are.
“But it is true I managed the possibility to stop playing and stay in the countryside, dedicate myself to my life in the countryside.”
“It is normal that anxiety begins to enter your mind.
“The leagues had started to compete and of course, I wanted to have a team.

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Cavani penned a £200,000-a-week contract at Old Trafford following his release from Paris Saint-Germain

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The Uruguayan striker recognised the importance of family coming firstCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“There are things that are not given because they should not be given.
“I am of the idea that in life things come when they have to come and sometimes, no matter how much you want something, if it doesn’t have to happen, it doesn’t happen.
“There was a lot of uncertainty and anxiety. Days began to pass and I saw my family, friends and everyone wanting to know where I was going to play.
“We are here, happy with the decision and now I want to put on the shirt.”

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BENJAMIN MENDY insists he knew nothing of a party which broke lockdown rules at his house on Saturday night.  
As reported by the Daily Mail, at least 15 people are said to have attended a gathering at the Manchester City star’s mansion in Macclesfield.

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Video footage thought to be from inside Benjamin Mendy’s pad seemed to show the Rule of Six being broken

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The footage appeared to show some the house adorned with Mendy’s shirts from throughout his career

And it was a clear breach of the ‘Rule of Six’ guidelines which have been laid down by the Government in recent weeks to try to curb the spread of Covid.  
The bash took place in the hours after the French international had played for City in a 1-1 draw at Elland Road.
Footage emerged on social media of people sitting round an indoor pool and showed various shirts from the left-back’s career on the wall.  
City wanted answers from the £49.3million defender who spoke publicly about the importance of sticking to the rules earlier this year.

But he has told the club he was not at the party – and that it was organised by his friend who lives with him.
Mendy also said he knew nothing about the event until after it was finished.
His house-mate who hosted the party is expected to face a government fine – but Mendy is likely to escape punishment.
Back in March, shortly before the national lockdown, the French defender was forced to go into self-isolation.

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Mendy played in City’s 1-1 draw with Leeds at Elland Road on Saturday eveningCredit: Reuters

That was because a family member, believed to be his father, had been tested for coronavirus – which turned out to be negative.
He said on social media: “Today, the results were negative for those around me.
“But it is important that everyone takes their responsibilities in this delicate period, to protect you but above all to protect the weakest in the face of the epidemic.
“I therefore invite you to follow the instructions given by the WHO in order to stop the spread of the virus as quickly as possible and to get back to normal.
“Take care of yourself and your family.”
Macclesfield is not under local lockdown – but the ‘Rule of Six’ is in place across the country at the current time.
City have not commented on the reports – but it comes just a month after midfielder Phil Foden was sent home from England duty along with Mason Greenwood for breaking Covid guidelines in Reykjavik.
On the same night as the bash at Mendy’s, Three Lions trio Ben Chilwell, Jadon Sancho and Tammy Abraham were at a surprise birthday party thrown for the Chelsea striker.

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