Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta mentioned on Friday he was stunned his facet have been compelled to play their Premier League opener at Brentford final week regardless of a coronavirus outbreak that noticed 4 gamers check constructive.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Willian and reserve goalkeeper Alex Runarsson missed the match.
An additional spherical of testing was carried out on the day of the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat to the Premier League new boys, however Arteta was mystified as to why the precedent of matches being postponed in such circumstances from final season was not continued.
Manchester Metropolis, Fulham, Aston Villa and Newcastle all had video games known as off within the 2020/2021 marketing campaign on account of outbreaks.
“I used to be stunned, however the regulators determined that the very best factor to do was to play the sport,” mentioned Arteta at his pre-match press convention forward of Chelsea’s go to to the Emirates on Sunday.
“We did what we needed to do by way of the membership, by way of the membership physician, how issues developed and the danger we might see there.”
Aubameyang and Willian are in rivalry to return in opposition to Chelsea, however Lacazette and Runarsson stay unavailable.
Arteta added that the majority of his squad have acquired each doses of a coronavirus vaccine, however the resolution on whether or not to get vaccinated or not was nonetheless a private one.
“Most of them are double vaccinated, others have had one vaccine,” added the Spaniard.
“We try to encourage them to get vaccinated as a result of they’re going to defend the individuals round them.
“It’s a very private matter, we try to information them and clarify the explanations to do it, however on the finish it’s a private resolution.”
AFP
