Dani Ceballos has given an encouraging update on the status of the Arsenal squad, stating that none of the group tested positive for coronavirus in the most recent tests.
Concerns rose when it was confirmed that Watford [whose training ground is next to Arsenal's] had three confirmed cases but football.london were told the Gunners were sticking to their original plans following the Hornet's diagnoses.
Mikel Arteta and his squad were pictured arriving at London Colney on Wednesday [May 20] after the Premier League passed a vote to allow clubs to return to training in small groups [maximum five in a group].
As well as confirming nobody at Arsenal tested positive, Ceballos also gave the date he expects to see football return in England.
"48 hours ago we passed the tests and the truth is that the entire team has given a negative result," the on loan midfielder told RTVE Deportes.
"We are going to start a week late with respect to what is being talked about in Spain, which is June 12, and we are going to start the league on the 20th."
Looking at the progress Arsenal were making under Mikel Arteta the enforced break halted the positive momentum among the side, and with Ceballos in particular.
After a mixed first half-season at the club, the Spaniard really started coming into his own after February's winter break. Deservedly taking Lucas Torreira's place in the starting lineup, the impact he was having with and without the ball was imperative to Arsenal becoming a more balanced outfit.
Having hit such a rich vein of form, the Spaniard hopes to build on this when the Gunners return to action, even if his stay won't go beyond the end of the 2019/20 campaign [whenever it finishes].
"The best of Dani Ceballos is yet to come, settling in a team, feeling important, feeling [like a] leader, which is what I really like," he added.
"I am a Real Madrid player. Any player in the world would like to play for Real Madrid, I have a contract with them for three more years and they are the ideal team to succeed."
