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Mikel Arteta: Arsenal manager tests positive for coronavirus

Arteta was named Arsenal manager in December 2019

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has tested positive for coronavirus and the club's game against Brighton on Saturday has been postponed.

The Gunners have closed their training ground and club staff who had recent contact with Arteta will now self-isolate.

The Premier League will hold "an emergency club meeting" on Friday to discuss future fixtures.

"This is really disappointing," said Spaniard Arteta, 37.

"I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I'm allowed."

Arsenal expects a "significant number of people" will self-isolate, including the "full first-team squad".

The club were due to face Brighton in the Premier League at Amex Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT) but Brighton released a statement, shortly after confirmation of Arteta's positive test, announcing that the game had been called off.

BBC Sport understands all 20 Premier League clubs want to decide on a unified strategy, and one of the possible options that will be discussed at the meeting is postponing the rest of this weekend's scheduled fixtures.


"The health of our people and the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is," said Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham.

"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."

Arsenal's Premier League match with Manchester City on Wednesday was postponed as a "precautionary measure" and several Gunners players went into self-isolation after Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis contracted coronavirus.

Arsenal said Marinakis, 52, met a number of their players when the Gunners hosted the Greek side in a Europa League match two weeks ago.

The club said no players or staff would be tested for coronavirus.

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is self-isolating as a precaution after a member of his family was admitted to hospital displaying symptoms of coronavirus.

Three Leicester City first-team players have also self-isolated after showing symptoms of coronavirus.

RB Leipzig, Timo Werner striker on his way to Liverpool? He certainly sounds keen...


Werner, scored from the penalty spot against Tottenham on Wednesday

Timo Werner is brilliant footballer, natural goalscorer, terrible poker player.

At least, that's the impression we got following his attempts not to appear too excited about being linked with Liverpool.

The 23-year-old RB Leipzig striker scored the only goal as his side beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

It was his 26th goal of the season and, after Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp recently described him as a very good player, Werner was asked how he felt to be linked with the Reds.

"Liverpool are the best team in the world at the moment, and when you're linked with that team it makes me very proud," he said.

Werner, who has scored 11 goals in 29 games for Germany and is considered one of the most exciting strikers in world football, was also impressively modest in his response.

He followed up his initial answer by saying he still needs to improve if he is to earn a move to Anfield.

He added: "It's a pleasure but I know Liverpool play a lot of good players and I have to improve myself and to learn much more things to get on this level to play there."

Time to get the chequebook out, Jurgen? Some fans on social media certainly think so...

What do you think?

they didn't kiss..... they almost did kiss when trying to hug each other watch the video to confirm........u guys calling him gay are perverts������

PSG striker says Liverpool a 'machine' as they head to Premier League title

I just want to follow my dream - Mbappe
Paris St-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe has described Liverpool as "a machine" as they aim to clinch their first league title since 1990, and has told BBC Sport he is "100%" happy in the French capital as he continues to be linked with Real Madrid.
Liverpool have also been linked with Mbappe - regarded by many as the best young player in the world - despite manager Jurgen Klopp saying the striker is out of his club's price range.
And while the 21-year-old World Cup winner, who joined PSG in 2017 in a transfer worth £165.7m, reaffirmed his commitment to his current club at the launch of his charity, 'Inspired by Kylian Mbappe (IBKM)', he says he watches Liverpool's title charge with admiration.
"What Liverpool do in this moment is amazing," Mbappe said. "They're like a machine, they've found a rhythm and are like 'we play again, we play again'.
"They've lost zero games. When you watch you think everything's easy but that's not easy. The guys are focused, they play games every three days and they win, they win, they win.
"Now the problem is that everybody watches Liverpool, and everybody watches what we can do against them, so now they have to show they are strong again but it's a very good team with a very good manager."

Mbappe grabbed the attention of Premier League clubs by scoring twice as Monaco knocked Manchester City out of the Champions League in 2016-17.
That summer he joined PSG, initially on a season-long loan, before being named best young player as he helped France win the 2018 World Cup.
This season he is aiming to help PSG win a third straight French title but has repeatedly been linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
"Everyone talks about it - when I was young I talked about it too," said Mbappe. "But now I'm a player and I know it's not the moment.
"We are in January - it's the money time of the season. Imagine I answer your question and say something. Everybody will talk about it and it's not good for PSG.
"Now I'm with PSG and I'm 100% with the club. I want to help the club grow this season, to win a lot of titles, so for me it's not good to talk about [my future].
"I think about the club because the club helped me. I came here at 18. I was a talent but I was not a superstar. Now I'm a superstar, thanks to PSG and the French national team.
"I have to stay calm and stay focused on PSG. After that, at the end of the season, we will see. But now I'm focused on my game."

Mbappe targets rare treble
As well as winning Ligue 1 this year, Mbappe hopes to help PSG win the Champions League for the first time, and win Euro 2020 and the Olympic Games .
"That seems unattainable for the time being but I'm going to make sure I fulfil this dream. It would be a proud moment to be able to win the first European [Cup] for PSG and for our country to keep winning."
Mbappe's charity was set up to help 98 children - a nod to his birth year - between the ages of nine and 16 from various social backgrounds to accomplish "their dreams
Asked what was on his wish-list for 2020 with France.bad, he said: "It would be a treble of Champions League, European Championship and Olympic Games. That wouldn't be ".

Jurgen Klopp: Liverpool boss calls festive schedule 'a crime'

Liverpool play Leicester on 26 December and Wolves on 29 December
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says it is "a crime" that some Premier League teams have to play two games in three days over the festive period.
The Reds travel to Leicester on Thursday, before hosting Wolves on Sunday but most other sides only have one day off between games.
After winning the Club World Cup in Qatar and defeat in the Carabao Cup , Liverpool will have played nine games in a packed December.
"It's absolutely not OK," Klopp said.
"And we still have it. None of the managers have a problem with matches on Boxing Day, but playing the 26th and 28th is a crime.
"We can say whatever we want and no-one is really interested but every year it is the same for the coaches involved in it."

The Club World Cup was the second trophy Liverpool - who are 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand - have won this season, after they beat Chelsea on penalties to win the Uefa Super Cup in August.
The semi-final and final in Qatar clashed with Liverpool's Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat at Aston Villa, meaning they had to send separate teams to compete in the competitions.
Klopp's side, who are chasing a first league title in 30 years, will have two days of rest between festive Premier League fixtures, but 14 sides will only get one day off between matches.
"There is no reason to give teams less than 48 hours to play another Premier League game," Klopp added.
"Sports science doesn't give you something to deal with it. The body needs a specific amount of time to go again. It's easy. That's science. But you ignore that completely."
Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace play West Ham at home on Thursday (15:00 GMT) and just 48 hours later face Southampton away on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
"I enjoy the training, the matches themselves somewhat less so as I think it's harsh to play at the level we play at with just a day's rest," said Hodgson.
"It's too much to ask. I don't enjoy that part, it's a very dangerous period - there can be injuries, there can be fatigue. Suddenly you find yourself looking up the table rather than down."

itsme01:



yeye girl ... Ghedoni don knack her sense comot
Naso Gedoni take collect UK passport
I still secretly wish does proud bastard Tacha and Seyi work out something
..

nor mind her

What are your top 5 songs for the year 2019?

Mine are
1.Koffee - Rapture
2.Wizkid - Ghetto love
3.Davido - Blow my mind
4.Rema - Dumebi
5.Joeboy - Baby

go back to the post office thanks

Turning Everton into Champions League contenders will not be "mission impossible", according to new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
The 60-year-old former Chelsea, Real Madrid and AC Milan coach has signed a deal to lead the Toffees until 2024.
He takes over an Everton side that is 15th in the Premier League, four points above the relegation zone.
"The Champions League is the long-term goal and objective," he said. "Nothing is impossible in football."
Everton have not finished in the top four since 2005, which is the only time they had done it since 1988. The only clubs in Ancelotti's managerial career where he has not managed to exceed a 50% win percentage were Italian sides Reggiana and Parma in the late 1990s.
Speaking on the day Everton revealed final designs for a new 52,000-capacity stadium at Bramley Moore Dock, Ancelotti said: "The attraction is the history and tradition of the club.
"It is one of the biggest in England."
Football Daily: Ancelotti's arrival and Watford's Brazilian bargain
'Ancelotti & Arteta face daunting task'
I can't wait to work with Ancelotti and he looks happy with me - Ferguson
'A massive coup' - but is Ancelotti right for the Toffees?
Ancelotti has won the Champions League three times as a coach - twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid.
He won the won the Premier League and FA Cup Double at Chelsea in 2010 and has also won league titles with Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain.
Ancelotti was sacked by Napoli earlier this month, despite guiding them into the knockout stages of this season's Champions League.
"It is true I managed top clubs," he said, "At Paris St-Germain the project was really good. I think here is the same. I went to the training ground yesterday. It is fantastic. The fact the club wants to build a stadium means they have a clear idea of how they want success.
"Revenue in football now is very important. Everton want their new stadium so they can improve that and be more competitive.
"For me, it could be good to be here when the new stadium will be open."
Zlatan on the agenda?
Ancelotti's status within the game means he will be linked with players previously felt to be beyond Everton.
The latest is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is a free agent after leaving Major League Soccer outfit LA Galaxy and whose proposed move to AC Milan has stalled.
It is understood the 38-year-old is open to a move back to the Premier League after he impressed during his two-season stint at Manchester United.
Ancelotti says he has not spoken to the Sweden star, having previously worked with him at PSG.
"Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a good friend of mine but I don't know what his idea is," said Ancelotti. "I have to call him.
"I don't know if some players want to come here because I am here. It happened some times in the past.
"I want to speak to the club and find a resolution if there is a responsibility to improve the club."
Working with Kean
One player Ancelotti will hope to get more out of is teenage striker Moise Kean.
Kean has failed to score in 16 appearances for Everton since his £25.1m move from Juventus in August. In recent times he has made the headlines for being dropped by former boss Marco Silva as a disciplinary measure for twice being late for team meetings.
He was then when he was replaced by caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson 18 minutes after being introduced as a substitute during the 1-1 draw at Manchester United on 15 December.
Ancelotti tried to buy Kean when he was at Napoli and feels there is a lot to come from the forward.
"He did very well last year," he said. "We wanted him at Napoli but he signed for Everton.
"He hasn't played a lot but he is 19 and for every player, to change teams and country needs some time for adaptation. We all have to work with him so he can improve."

Zlatan Ibrahimovic statue has nose cut off by vandals

The statue has been vandalised several times since it was unveiled on 9 October
Vandals have cut off the nose of a statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic outside Malmo's stadium in Sweden.
It is the latest act of vandalism directed at the statue since it was announced that Ibrahimovic had invested in a rival club last month.
Former Sweden striker Ibrahimovic, 38, made his professional debut for Malmo 20 years ago.
The statue's artist Peter Linde has appealed for people to stop the vandalism.

The former Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris St-Germain and Manchester United player is looking for his next club having left LA Galaxy at the end of the MLS season.
On 27 November it was announced he had bought 25% of the shares in Hammarby, who finished third in this year's Swedish championship
That same day, the 3.5 metre high bronze structure, commissioned by the Swedish FA and unveiled on 9 October, was sprayed with paint, set on fire and a toilet seat put over its arm. Ibrahimovic's house in Stockholm was also vandalised, with 'Judas' painted on the front door.s Swedish championship
That same day, the 3.5 metre high bronze structure, commissioned by the Swedish FA and unveiled on 9 October, was sprayed with paint, set on fire and a toilet seat put over its arm. Ibrahimovic

like say e concern me

Carlo Ancelotti could easily be referred to as "The Perfector" - the man an already successful team brings in to take them one step further and win the coveted grand trophies reserved for the very best.
A proven winner with a trophy laden cabinet both as a player and as a coach, Ancelotti is the maestro associated with the big clubs and the big names in football.
Now he is the manager of Everton, who have not finished above seventh place in the Premier League since 2014 and are 15th at Christmas this year.
Puzzled? It is hard not to be, but it seems Ancelotti is bewitched by the idea of building a project and proving he is not only a manager for the big occasions but also one who can lay foundations and create a winning team.
Everton are rumoured to have been interested in Ancelotti for some time, since the Italian lost his job at Bayern Munich, if not before.
His success at working in highly pressurised environments and the bond he creates with his players - not to mention his tactical nous - have long attracted them to the winning coach. With him at the helm, Everton believe they can succeed where Bayern and Napoli have failed.
Ancelotti first won over the Premier League when he guided Chelsea to their first Double. Beloved by his players, he went on to manage Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Napoli, though while he may have added to his trophy haul, criticism of his work has led many to question if the 60-year-old is the right man to take over at Goodison Park.
For 10 years, Ancelotti presided over the two most successful Italian clubs, Juventus and AC Milan. He won the Champions League twice but walked away with only one league title to his name.
As if to solidify his reputation as a man who could not guarantee domestic success, Ancelotti suffered the ignominy of relinquishing the French top-flight crown to Montpellier in his first (half) season at PSG.
When the Italian took over from Antoine Kombouare in 2011, PSG were top of Ligue 1 but were soon overtaken by their more consistent rivals and finished second. Ancelotti did go on to win the title the following season, but his move to Real Madrid in 2013 seemed a better fit.
The Spanish giants are obsessed by European competitions and Ancelotti arrived at the Bernabeu at the right time. Predecessor Jose Mourinho might have brought Los Blancos a lot of success, but his tenure was one of relentless drama and uncomfortable tension.
It was at Real that Ancelotti became known as something of a "diva whisperer". His man-management skill, which brought harmony to a once highly tense dressing room, was one of the main reasons attributed to the club's success under his leadership.
However, what often gets overlooked is how tactically flexible Ancelotti made the team. Under Mourinho, Real were the perfect counter-attacking side. Ancelotti wanted to keep utilising that direct style but add more control and unpredictability, making the side more comfortable in possession.
By beating three German clubs, including Bayern Munich, on their way to the 2014 Champions League final, Ancelotti changed attitudes, renewed confidence and bettered his players to create the La Decima-winning side.
It is no wonder his set of 'Galacticos' burst into his news conference after the win to sing "Como no te voy a querer" (How am I not going to love you) to him.
It was a song Bayern Munich's players were probably never going to sing upon his move in 2016, and his reputation as the great man-manager took a hit in Germany. Rumours of angered players forced to arrange high-intensity, secret training sessions behind Ancelotti's back spread like wildfire.
Supposed quotes from players criticising the Italian's relaxed methods were vehemently denied but, according to what club president Uli Hoeness told Radio FFH after sacking the manager, Ancelotti had turned five important players against him.
As Ancelotti explained in an interview with Kicker: "I'm not a coach, who kills his players in training."
It was always going to be difficult to take over from Pep Guardiola at Bayern.
The Spaniard had won over his squad and created arguably the most beautiful football ever witnessed in the Bundesliga. Ancelotti, the pragmatist, may have finally won a league title again, but he lost the battle with the players.
At Napoli in 2018, Ancelotti was expected to take the club that had challenged Juventus so closely for the title that one step further. It was a tough ask. Napoli operated on a smaller budget and were overachieving in terms of results.
With players nearing the end of their contracts and looking for gratitude, there was a limit to what could be managed.
Struggling to convert the many chances they created, Napoli were suffering - but when president Aurelio de Laurentiis ordered the players to attend a week-long training camp after they slipped 21 points behind Juve, he effectively broke them. Not only did he go over Ancelotti's head and interfere with team affairs, but the president then went on to fine the players for not abiding by his rules.
While Ancelotti has a history of working with tough presidents, they have largely trusted his work. As soon as they have interfered, Ancelotti and his teams have suffered.
At Real Madrid, he effectively blamed his substitution of Gareth Bale in a game for his eventual sacking, admitting it led to a huge row with president Florentino Perez, while De Laurentiis's interference with coaching matters largely created the disharmony that overwhelmed Napoli.
Will he find the trust and the project he has been yearning for at Goodison Park? According to AC Milan and Italy legend Paolo Maldini, "there is not a team in existence that Carlo cannot coach".
Everton will soon find out.

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the club are "further behind" in their development than he hoped for at this stage of the season.
United, who host Newcastle on Boxing Day, sit eighth in the Premier League and seven points off a spot in the Champions League places.
Solskjaer has been in charge for a year but says he is using this season to build a team for the next campaign.
"We knew this season was going to be a season of some ups and downs," he said.
"This season will be used to find a team and a squad for next season, but hopefully we can speed this process up by getting more results.
"I expect us to be more consistent, definitely more experienced and learning from these setbacks.
"At the moment we're a little bit further behind than what I was hoping for."
Midfielder Paul Pogba, who had been out since September with an ankle injury, came on as a substitute in United's 2-0 defeat by Watford on Sunday.
Solskjaer says the France international is the "best all-round midfielder in the world" and could be in line for a start against Newcastle on Thursday.
"He can play anywhere. He can play the holding midfield, he's a box-to-box midfielder. He can drop deep, get it, play them long passes, he can get higher up and combine, one-twos," added the Norwegian.
"That's the beauty of having Paul because he is the best all-round midfielder in the world. He can do all roles, but if I play him low he should have played high and if I play him high I should have played low.
"There's always going to be that discussion with him. It's great to have him back."