Mikel Arteta is set to miss Arsenal's clash with Manchester City on New Year's Day after returning a positive Covid-19 test, the club have confirmed.
A statement on arsenal.com read: "Mikel Arteta will miss our match against Manchester City on New Year’s Day after testing positive for COVID-19.
"Mikel is isolating in line with Government guidelines and we wish him well."
Arsenal have not played since their 5-0 victory over Norwich City on Boxing Day after their Bank Holiday clash with Wolves was postponed.
The midlands side had an outbreak of positive Covid results in their camp and had an insufficient number of players available to fulfil the fixture.
Postponement meant that Arteta was gearing his team up to face the current Premier League leaders on New Year's Day, but the Gunners will now have to cope without their manager in the dugout.
However, it looks as though he's still well enough to face the media ahead of the game.
football.london understands Arteta is suffering from mild symptoms and is planning on attending tomorrow's press conference remotely as things stand.
There hasn't been any information on who will take charge of Arsenal against City just yet, but it's something that will inevitably come up when Arteta answers questions from the media.
It's not the first time the Spaniard has tested positive for Covid. He previously contracted the virus in March 2020 ahead of the suspended break from the season.
Arsenal head into the game in good form having won their last four league fixtures, and Arteta will simply be hoping that his squad can remain focused on the task at hand in his absence.
