<p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Mikel Arteta says he was ‘surprised’ that Arsenal‘s game with Brentford was not called off due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the Gunners’ squad.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Arteta’s side were without captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette for the opening night of the Premier League after the attacking pair both tested positive for the virus.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Willian and 언브로큰 back-up goalkeeper Alex Runarsson also returned positive tests. Arsenal were subsquently beaten 2-0 by Thomas Frank’s newly promoted side but Arteta admitted he had been expecting the game to be postponed before kick-off.</p><div class=”artSplitter mol-img-group” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> 
</div> <noscript> ![Mikel Arteta said he was surprised Arsenal's opening game with Brentford went ahead]()
</noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Mikel Arteta said he was surprised Arsenal’s opening game with Brentford went ahead</p></div><div class=”artSplitter mol-img-group” style=”style”><div class=”splitLeft”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> </div> <noscript> ![Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the game]()
</noscript> </div></div><div class=”splitRight”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> </div> <noscript> ![Alexandre Lacazette also tested positive for the virus]()
</noscript> </div></div><div class=”clear”></div><p class=”imageCaption”>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (left) and Alexandre Lacazette (right) both tested positive for 언브로큰 Covid-19 ahead of the game</p></div><div><div data-track-module=”am-related_carousel^related_carousel” data-track-selector=”.rotator-panels a:not([class*=external])” data-dm-rotator-rotate=”false” data-track-pos=”static” data-preferred-shared-network-enabled=”” data-dm-rotator-auto-init=”” id=”p-26″ class=”related-carousel with-fb-or-tw news” data-dm-rotator-active-class=”active” data-dm-rotator-page-count=”1.0″ data-dm-social-article-auto-init=”” data-dm-rotator-page-size=”1″> <div class=”rotator bdrcc”> <div class=”rotator-title”> <h2>RELATED ARTICLES</h2> <ul class=”rotator-pages link-xocc”> <li class=”rotator-prev”>Previous
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</div> <div class=”perform-player” data-tracking-id=”432bdd91ecc8aae4071ce50cb5.xsohe0a9vwom1aofo5is4krre” data-related-player=”true”></div> <br /> </div><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>’Yes, I was surprised but the regulators decided the best thing to do was to play the game,’ Arteta said at his press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash with Chelsea.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>There is no set threshold or number of Covid positives required in order for a Premier League game to be called off.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Arsenal confirmed to Sportsmail that they had not made a request for 언브로큰 the match to be postponed. </p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”><span class=”mol-style-italic”>Sportsmail </span>revealed on Tuesday that the game was just hours away from being called off after the entire travelling Arsenal party were forced to take emergency Covid tests on the day of the game.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”><span class=”mol-style-italic”>Sportsmail</span> understands that staff were asked to take additional tests on Saturday, a scheduled day off.</p><div class=”artSplitter mol-img-group” style=”style”><div class=”splitLeft”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> </div> <noscript> ![Willian was also unavailable after contracting the virus]()
</noscript> </div></div><div class=”splitRight”><div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> </div> <noscript> ![Goalkeeper Runarsson was the fourth member of the squad to test positive]()
</noscript> </div></div><div class=”clear”></div><p class=”imageCaption”>Brazilian winger Willian (left) and Alex Runarsson (right) also contracted the virus</p></div><div class=”artSplitter mol-img-group” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> </div> <noscript> ![The Gunners, who were missing a total of four players through Covid, were beaten 2-0]()
</noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>The Gunners, who were missing a total of four players through Covid, were beaten 2-0</p></div><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Captain Aubameyang, whose wife Alysha posted pictures on social media of a family birthday party just days before the striker’s positive test, has now recorded a negative result and will be assessed ahead of Sunday’s home game against Chelsea.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Lacazette and Runarsson are still recovering and 언브로큰 won’t be available for the visit of the European champions but Willian is being assessed ahead of the clash against his former club.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Premier League clubs are testing twice a week but there was enough concern over Arsenal’s visit to newly promoted Brentford that Gunners players, the coaching team and other associated staff were told to take tests on the day of the game.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Arteta confirmed most of his squad have received at least one Covid vaccine and said the club are trying to encourage all of the players to get fully vaccinated, but admitted not all have taken up the option.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>’Most of them are double vaccinated.
Others have had one vaccine. We are trying to encourage them to get vaccinated, but it’s a personal matter. </p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>’At the end it’s a personal decision. It’s not about protecting ourselves, it’s about protecting the people around us as well.'</p><div class=”artSplitter mol-img-group” style=”style”> <div class=”mol-img”> <div class=”image-wrap”> </div> <noscript> ![Arteta admitted that some of his players are not vaccinated but most have had at least one jab]()
</noscript> </div> <p class=”imageCaption”>Arteta admitted that some of his players are not vaccinated but most have had at least one jab</p></div><p class=”mol-para-with-font”><span class=”mol-style-italic”>Sportsmail </span>revealed last month that Premier League clubs were imposing ’emergency measures’ ahead of the new season after a spate of Covid cases following the summer break.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Clubs were advised by the Premier League to impose stricter Covid guidelines, with the rules similar to to the restrictions that accompanied Project Restart when football returned during the first Covid lockdown in the summer of 2020.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Restrictions required medical staff to be equipped in full PPE when in contact with playing staff, with a 15-minute time limit on treatment also being reinstated.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>The measures also included social distancing and masks in indoor areas and masks are required at training grounds.
Inspectors will also make routine visits to clubs to ensure guidelines are being adhered to.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>There is some feeling from Premier League clubs that the ’emergency measures’ could be in place until October.</p><p class=”mol-para-with-font”>Arsenal were one of the clubs hardest hit by Covid cases during pre-season and they were forced to cancel their tour to of the United States.</p><div class=”art-ins mol-factbox sport” data-version=”2″ id=”mol-0a15abb0-0195-11ec-8509-052776e367dc” website stunned Premier League allowed opening game to go ahead
