Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta revealed that a virus swept through his squad before their 3-1 win over Brentford.
The Gunners recovered from a goal down to stay second in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Liverpool. Kai Havertz was sent home with the virus on the day.
Arteta revealed that several of his players were sick on the day of the game. Kai Havertz was sent home with the bug, while Declan Rice was a surprise starter on the bench.
Captain Martin Odegaard was rumored to be struggling in the hours before kick-off, but he started the game and was replaced in the second period. According To Sky Sport.
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“It affected players on and off the pitch,” Arteta stated when asked about the bug.
“It is not serious. But it wasn’t an ideal circumstance. Kai’s symptoms were evident. He wasn’t feeling good at all. He had pretty apparent symptoms, so stay away from it, get him in a car, and drive back to London.
“These things happen.” There are always things thrown at you during this time, diseases, viruses, so I try to schedule the line-up as late as possible so that you don’t wake up in the morning to an unexpected surprise like this.”
Arteta is hoping the infection will have subsided before his team’s trip to Brighton on Saturday.
“In that position it wasn’t because of the bug but because he was the best player in that position to start the game.
“He made his debut here (against Brentford in 2023) and then today he made his full Premier League debut. Sometimes that feeling comes in and you feel it is the right one.”
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