Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will sit out Saturday's Premier League game at home to Manchester City after testing positive for COVID-19, the club said on Wednesday.

Arsenal are fourth in the table on 35 points after 19 games, 12 points behind leaders City.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-liverpool-stunned-by-leicester-city-spurs-and-southampton-share-points-440880">Premier League: Liverpool stunned by Leicester City, Spurs and Southampton share points</a>

"Mikel is isolating in line with Government guidelines and we wish him well," Arsenal said in a statement.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 Mikel Arteta will miss our match against Manchester City on New Year’s Day, after testing positive for COVID-19
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1476143043787038720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Arteta previously tested positive in March 2020, shortly before the pandemic forced the Premier League to shut down for more than three months.

The 39-year-old is also the latest Premier League manager to test positive after Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira&nbsp;and Aston Villa's Steven Gerrard.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pl-tottenham-hotspur-held-by-10-man-southampton-as-antonio-contes-dream-run-continues-440782">PL: Tottenham Hotspur held by 10-man Southampton as Antonio Conte's dream run continues</a>

A record 103 positive COVID-19 cases were found among players and staff in the Premier League over the past week following a raft of fixture postponements during the busy festive period.

Britain reported a record 129,471&nbsp;new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday as it battles a surge in infections fuelled by the Omicron variant.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will sit out Saturday's Premier League game at home to Manchester City after testing positive for COVID-19, the club said on Wednesday.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will sit out Saturday's Premier League game at home to Manchester City after testing positive for COVID-19, the club said on Wednesday. Arsenal are fourth in the table on 35 points after 19 games, 12 points behind leaders City. ALSO READ: Premier League: Liverpool stunned by Leicester City, Spurs and Southampton share points "Mikel is isolating in line with Government guidelines and we wish him well," Arsenal said in a statement. 🚨 Mikel Arteta will miss our match against Manchester City on New Year’s Day, after testing positive for COVID-19 — Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 29, 2021 × Arteta previously tested positive in March 2020, shortly before the pandemic forced the Premier League to shut down for more than three months. The 39-year-old is also the latest Premier League manager to test positive after Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira and Aston Villa's Steven Gerrard. ALSO READ: PL: Tottenham Hotspur held by 10-man Southampton as Antonio Conte's dream run continues A record 103 positive COVID-19 cases were found among players and staff in the Premier League over the past week following a raft of fixture postponements during the busy festive period. Britain reported a record 129,471 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday as it battles a surge in infections fuelled by the Omicron variant.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to miss Manchester City game after COVID-19 positive test

There have been some tough times for Arsenal since Arsene Wenger ended his long reign as manager in 2018 but there was always something to cling to for the fans, a glimmer of hope despite the nagging sense of decline. 
 
A Europa League final against Chelsea in Unai Emery`s one full season in charge and a fifth-place finish in the Premier League suggested Arsenal were not too far behind.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bayern-munich-renew-bid-to-win-league-as-borussia-dortmund-battle-rb-leipzig-383390" hreflang="en">Bayern Munich renew bid to win league as Borussia Dortmund battle RB Leipzig</a> 
 
Even last season when Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League, they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final, a result that vindicated the decision to sack Emery halfway through the campaign and recruit Mikel Arteta. 
 
But after Thursday`s demoralising Europa League semi-final exit against Villarreal turned the lights out on Arsenal`s season, hope is a commodity in extremely short supply. 
 
Arteta described the 2-1 aggregate defeat, after a listless 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium, as a devastating blow and his mood had not lightened the day after. 
 
"Last night, one goal goes in and we are in the final and it`s a different world," the Spaniard said. "But today that world doesn`t look very nice." 
 
He is not wrong. 
 
Arsenal sit ninth in the Premier League and face the prospect of no European football for the first time in 25 years. 
 
The long-running chorus of discontent against American owner Stan Kroenke grows louder with protests before Thursday night`s semi-final. 
 
Arsenal`s squad lacks quality, depth and personality and too much responsibility is being placed on the young shoulders of gems such as Bukayo Saka who will doubtless be on the radar of the Premier League`s top guns this summer. 
 
DOWNWARD SPIRAL 
 
Then there is the question of whether Arteta is the right man to pull Arsenal out of their downward spiral. 
 
It looked a gamble when he left his role as Pep Guardiola`s assistant at Manchester City to return to the club he once captained, but the FA Cup win over Chelsea appeared to have bought him the time needed to put his stamp on the club. 
 
If that was a step in the right direction, the following nine months have seen Arsenal take several back. 
 
The sight of Arteta being tactically outmanoeuvred by fellow Spaniard Emery, now in charge of Villarreal, over both legs of the Europa League semi-final, was described as "embarrassing" by former player Martin Keown. 
 
Huge investment in the squad is required but with no European football to look forward to next season the list of elite players ready to move to the Emirates will not be long. 
 
Arteta remains confident that in the likes of Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Kieran Tierney, Arsenal can be optimistic. 
 
"It gives me a lot of confidence because they have shown what they can do," he said. 
 
"But as well they need the right surroundings around for them to grow, without putting too much pressure on them." 
 
To put Arsenal`s grim situation into perspective, it is a sobering thought that two years ago when they lost to Chelsea in the Europa League final in Baku they finished only two points behind the Stamford Bridge club. 
 
Two years down the line and Chelsea are in the Champions League final after outclassing Real Madrid in the semi-finals and look set to cement their position in the top-four. 
 
Chelsea`s bold move to sack club great Frank Lampard in January risked alienating the fans. But in German Thomas Tuchel they now have a manager who looks capable of making Chelsea genuine challengers to Manchester City in the coming seasons. 
 
Arteta could yet prove to be the man to turn things round, but his immediate prospects look bleak.

There have been some tough times for Arsenal since Arsene Wenger ended his long reign as manager in 2018 but there was always something to cling to for the fans, a glimmer of hope despite the nagging sense of decline.

There have been some tough times for Arsenal since Arsene Wenger ended his long reign as manager in 2018 but there was always something to cling to for the fans, a glimmer of hope despite the nagging sense of decline. A Europa League final against Chelsea in Unai Emery`s one full season in charge and a fifth-place finish in the Premier League suggested Arsenal were not too far behind. ALSO READ: Bayern Munich renew bid to win league as Borussia Dortmund battle RB Leipzig Even last season when Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League, they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final, a result that vindicated the decision to sack Emery halfway through the campaign and recruit Mikel Arteta. But after Thursday`s demoralising Europa League semi-final exit against Villarreal turned the lights out on Arsenal`s season, hope is a commodity in extremely short supply. Arteta described the 2-1 aggregate defeat, after a listless 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium, as a devastating blow and his mood had not lightened the day after. "Last night, one goal goes in and we are in the final and it`s a different world," the Spaniard said. "But today that world doesn`t look very nice." He is not wrong. Arsenal sit ninth in the Premier League and face the prospect of no European football for the first time in 25 years. The long-running chorus of discontent against American owner Stan Kroenke grows louder with protests before Thursday night`s semi-final. Arsenal`s squad lacks quality, depth and personality and too much responsibility is being placed on the young shoulders of gems such as Bukayo Saka who will doubtless be on the radar of the Premier League`s top guns this summer. DOWNWARD SPIRAL Then there is the question of whether Arteta is the right man to pull Arsenal out of their downward spiral. It looked a gamble when he left his role as Pep Guardiola`s assistant at Manchester City to return to the club he once captained, but the FA Cup win over Chelsea appeared to have bought him the time needed to put his stamp on the club. If that was a step in the right direction, the following nine months have seen Arsenal take several back. The sight of Arteta being tactically outmanoeuvred by fellow Spaniard Emery, now in charge of Villarreal, over both legs of the Europa League semi-final, was described as "embarrassing" by former player Martin Keown. Huge investment in the squad is required but with no European football to look forward to next season the list of elite players ready to move to the Emirates will not be long. Arteta remains confident that in the likes of Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Kieran Tierney, Arsenal can be optimistic. "It gives me a lot of confidence because they have shown what they can do," he said. "But as well they need the right surroundings around for them to grow, without putting too much pressure on them." To put Arsenal`s grim situation into perspective, it is a sobering thought that two years ago when they lost to Chelsea in the Europa League final in Baku they finished only two points behind the Stamford Bridge club. Two years down the line and Chelsea are in the Champions League final after outclassing Real Madrid in the semi-finals and look set to cement their position in the top-four. Chelsea`s bold move to sack club great Frank Lampard in January risked alienating the fans. But in German Thomas Tuchel they now have a manager who looks capable of making Chelsea genuine challengers to Manchester City in the coming seasons. Arteta could yet prove to be the man to turn things round, but his immediate prospects look bleak.

Hope in short supply for Arsenal

Arsenal coach Unai Emery said their prime focus is the Premier League but also confirmed they will play the Europa League with "great motivation."&nbsp;

"Our focus now is very clear and it's the Premier League, it's our first (meaning main) focus," said Arsenal's coach Emery during a press conference.&nbsp;

Fifth-placed Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-0 in their most recent Premier League match, a result that will count for little if the Gunners fail to beat relegation-threatened Cardiff.&nbsp;

"If you win against Chelsea and you don't win tomorrow, you are losing three very important points," Emery said.

"Tomorrow we need to impose and to adapt. I think they're going to play with a big motivation, also and finding a lot of duels against us.

"We need tomorrow to be concentrated for the three points like we were against Chelsea."

Arsenal are negotiating to sign two players before the transfer window closes on January 31, but manager Unai Emery said they are not in the market for a defender despite a host of injuries to his back line.&nbsp;

The London club have been linked with a move for Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic and Barcelona winger Denis Suarez.&nbsp;

However, did not confirm if Ivan Perisic will join Arsenal despite Italian and British reporting that the 29-year-old Croatia international has handed in a transfer request to Inter Milan.&nbsp;

"I don't know exactly the players. I cannot said exactly which players (will join us) but they are players who can help us, and that can play as right or left winger,'' said Emery when asked about possible arrivals to the Emirates Stadium.&nbsp;

Arsenal coach Unai Emery said their prime focus is the Premier League but also confirmed they will play the Europa League with "great motivation." "Our focus now is very clear and it's the Premier League, it's our first (meaning main) focus," said Arsenal's coach Emery during a press conference.

Arsenal coach Unai Emery said their prime focus is the Premier League but also confirmed they will play the Europa League with "great motivation." "Our focus now is very clear and it's the Premier League, it's our first (meaning main) focus," said Arsenal's coach Emery during a press conference. Fifth-placed Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-0 in their most recent Premier League match, a result that will count for little if the Gunners fail to beat relegation-threatened Cardiff. "If you win against Chelsea and you don't win tomorrow, you are losing three very important points," Emery said. "Tomorrow we need to impose and to adapt. I think they're going to play with a big motivation, also and finding a lot of duels against us. "We need tomorrow to be concentrated for the three points like we were against Chelsea." Arsenal are negotiating to sign two players before the transfer window closes on January 31, but manager Unai Emery said they are not in the market for a defender despite a host of injuries to his back line. The London club have been linked with a move for Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic and Barcelona winger Denis Suarez. However, did not confirm if Ivan Perisic will join Arsenal despite Italian and British reporting that the 29-year-old Croatia international has handed in a transfer request to Inter Milan. "I don't know exactly the players. I cannot said exactly which players (will join us) but they are players who can help us, and that can play as right or left winger,'' said Emery when asked about possible arrivals to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal coach Unai Emery discusses transfers ahead of Premier League clash against Cardiff City

arsenal-coach

Arsenal Coach, News on Arsenal Coach, stories on Arsenal Coach, articles on Arsenal Coach, Arsenal Coach stories at Wion, Arsenal Coach news, Arsenal Coach latest news

arsenal coach

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to miss Manchester City game after COVID-19 positive test

Hope in short supply for Arsenal

Arsenal coach Unai Emery discusses transfers ahead of Premier League clash against Cardiff City