Fixtures

Man City v Arsenal postponed as ‘precaution’ amid coronavirus fears

Double Gameweek 29 is officially off. That’s because Arsenal’s rearranged trip to Manchester City has been postponed amid fears of a coronavirus outbreak.

The news comes after it was revealed on Tuesday that Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis had recent contracted COVID-19.

As the Greek side were at the Emirates Stadium for a Europa League match less than two weeks ago, it has now emerged that several Arsenal squad members met Marinakis.

These players, who have not been named, are now self-isolating at home for the remainder of the 14-day period after the meeting.

Arsenal announced the news in a statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“The medical advice we have received puts the risk of (these players) developing Covid-19 at extremely low. However, we are strictly following the Government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact. As a result, the players are unavailable for tonight’s match against Manchester City and the Premier League has decided the game should be postponed. The players will remain at their homes until the 14-day period expires. Four Arsenal staff – who were sitting close to Mr Marinakis during the match – will also remain at home until the 14 days are complete.” – Arsenal statement

The postponement of Wednesday night’s match means that Arsenal v Man City will need a new date once again.

It also means that Gameweek 29 has now concluded so anyone who had Kevin De Bruyne (£10.6m) in their starting line-up will see their first substitutes come in.

It also means those who took a hit for Arsenal players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£11.1m) or Nicolas Pépé (£9.2m) will have to make do with the blanks they registered against West Ham.

As things stand, Arsenal’s trip to Brighton in Gameweek 30 is still going ahead, as the self-isolating players can return to training on Friday.

“Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Mr Marinakis a swift recovery and we look forward to the players and staff returning to work on Friday in preparation for our match at Brighton.” – Arsenal statement

971 Comments Post a Comment
  1. La Roja
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Lundstram bench points 😎

    1. DA Minnion (Former great)
      • 11 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Stay on my bench.

    2. Queens of the South Age
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Nice. I get Cantwell as Lundstram is 2nd on bench. 🙁

      Guy in 2nd OR gets Lundstram. Brutal.

      1. HuttonDressedasLahm
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Same as me fml

    3. Rolls-Royce
      • 10 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Looks like the only highlight of your season.

    4. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      1pt Taylor 😎

  2. DA Minnion (Former great)
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Double game week disaster.

    1. Pukki Party
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      What double gameweek?

      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        This

  3. HTL
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Traore 1 point! Better than Holgate's -1 I suppose, though I can Lascelles' 6 lurking at the back of the bench

    1. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Same here. Traore cameo point.

      Fortunately I played Lundstram.

  4. TheBootyFinesser
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    season over can I get my wc back??

  5. Jebiga
    • 11 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    DCL 2 points, Lacelles 2nd on the bench tho :/

  6. Miniboss
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    I feel bad for Auba cappers. Right decision fpl wise, unbeliavably bad luck.

    1. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Yeah, Salah/Mane cappers the winners.

    2. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Nah I TC'd Mane which was way worse

      1. Wally banter
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        i tcd mane and capped auba 😉

    3. Energetics
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      What about wildcarders?

      I really wish all I had done is Vardy to Auba like most

    4. DavidMunday815
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      You're right! I took a -4 to get Pépé and Aubameyang, captaining the latter so, yes, I feel very unlucky indeed! Right decision to postpone the game though. This is one of those moments where real life is more important than my FPL team 😀

      1. Miniboss
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Wise words there.

      2. Wally banter
        • 11 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        atlast something sensible 🙂

      3. FPL Daniel
        • 14 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Get your priorities straight Munday 🙂 FPL > Real life 😉

    5. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Glad you admit that, plenty on here don't

  7. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    WC last week is a fail.

    Aguero -> Jimi? Y or N?

    Pope
    TAA Aurier Saiss
    Salah KdB Sarr Saka
    Aguero Auba Jota

    Gazzaniga Cantwell Cathcart Taylor

    1. pablo discobar
      • 14 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Not if west ham v wolves is postponed. West ham played arsenal last week!

      The havoc begins. Might call it a day on this season

  8. goriuanx
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Arsenal players bring told to isolate for one more day to make it 14 days since the Olympiacos game. This despite them playing another game against West Ham during this period and coming into contact with loads of people.

    Baffling. Get the feeling this weekend may be the last set of fixtures for a few months with the way they're reacting.

    1. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Also played Pompey

      1. goriuanx
        • 13 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Yep. It's silly really, the game should've gone ahead. And if not, then their quarantine day should start from 0 not 13.

  9. TAArt
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    What a wildcard - Vardy, Barnes, Mane out. Would have had 86 points. Ended up with 49 and with Auba (C), Mahrez and KDB (maybe) to play.
    To make it even worse the bloke above me in my mini league has Barnes first sub.
    What a week.

  10. Sterling Archer
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    think official fpl need to update the rules to include what happens If the league is cancelled! regarding those with chips left!

    1. goriuanx
      • 13 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      The league can't be cancelled. If anything, it'll be the Euros which gets postponed into next summer, with leagues continuing this summer.

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Why can it not be cancelled though?

        Is it because you’re a Liverpool fan? 😛

        1. goriuanx
          • 13 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          That would be the reason 😉

          Saw an article in regards to what discussions have been happening. Pretty defiant that it'll be the Euros which gets moved to accommodate games, should several leagues get postponed.

          1. theodosios
            • 6 Years
            4 years, 18 days ago

            Calcio is on the verge of being canceled, so I don't know why PL is different

            1. maverickga
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              4 years, 18 days ago

              Maybe because there’s currently a huge outbreak in Italy and not in the UK?

      2. Joss Ackland’s Spunky…
        • 5 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Liverpool will win the league in gw31 in an empty stadium. What an anti climax...

        1. Saxe-Gotha
          • 9 Years
          4 years, 18 days ago

          As a United fan, nothing would make me happier.

      3. Fpl Richie
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Agreed

    2. Miniboss
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      There's already been calls to UEFA from countries hosting euros, where they say they don't want to host the competition now. More likely they'll postpone the euros and leagues are finished behind closed doors.

  11. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Needed 4 points from Auba to win a crucial head to head. 🙁

    1. Soto Ayam
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Damm. Unlucky mate

  12. The Wanton Trader
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but if the Arsenal players are out of a 2 week isolation on Friday, how is it that we are only finding out about it now.
    Surely someone, somewhere must of noticed that there haven’t been any Arsenal players knocking about for 10 days. Even the training ground must of been a ghost town. Weird!!

    1. Forza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      The article just mentions "several Arsenal squad members", not necessarily the whole team.

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Ah ok

    2. teneighty
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      I guess the "isolation" started when the news about the Olympiakos owner surfaced, not directly after they played Olympiakos.

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        I think I may have been a bit off the mark on this. Ty

    3. Jarnathan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Probably because they only recently found out that the owner of Olympiacos was identifed as infected...

      1. The Wanton Trader
        • 6 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        Ok, thanks

    4. maffew85
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      It's really not. Their isolation only started since learning that their chairman had the virus but the 2 week clock started ticking after they met him 11 or so days ago. As long as none of them exhibit symptoms / test positive the 2 week quarantine will be finished on Friday.

  13. Azathoth
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    PL and Arsenal must sue the greek mobster....

  14. Champions League Varane
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    I really hope Wolves play this Sunday now!

  15. JRD
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    KDB(c) 0 points --> salah (vc) 9 points , fernandez off the bench 7 points
    thanx corona

  16. circusmonkey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Happy with this game being off, get Salah cap points in place of KDB.

  17. llmja
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Maddison to ...

    A.Willian
    B.Barn
    C.Sarr

    GW31 use FH

  18. D.Glynn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    TC epic fail.. hate this game.

  19. villa_til_i_die
    • 12 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Ok, so if anyone takes a hit now and only ONE games is played at weekend due to virus, that’s gonna hit hard!

  20. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Beautiful data-driven thread on Covid-19 and where the UK is at the moment:

    https://twitter.com/jeremyphoward/status/1237047880214392832?s=20

    1. RealVirg
      • 4 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Good advice at the end. However for my own personal circumstances, unless I am over 50/ ill then I am probably going to be ok

  21. liverbear
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    That's ruined my season. Took minus 8 to get 4 dgw. Dropped massively in mini leagues and to 130k overall. 4 playing and auba captain would have shot back up.

  22. Forza
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 9 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Auba (c) in for a hit, Lundstram glued to the bench, the luck factor of this season has been crazy 😆

    1. RAFA THE GAFFA
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      My 50:50 call below cost me 21 points. And the Aurier 1 pointer cost me Lunds 12!

      1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
        • 12 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        But apparently loads of smug ppl will tell you that was a poor decision and it's not luck

  23. RAFA THE GAFFA
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Rafa Out! 😎

    Vardy+Doherty+Salah(C)
    11+6+18 = 35

    Auba(C)+Aurier+Salah
    4+1+9 = 14

    1. Fpl Richie
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Sorry man! I suffered too there

  24. jb1985
    • 5 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    I am happy to get Barnes points off the bench for KDB and i think i may finally break into top 100K. This sucks though for football and FF in general.

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Every cloud

  25. Kuzser
    • 6 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    FPL should revert all those used WC, FH and TC. So many teams ruined because of that.

    1. Miniboss
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Yeah not gonna happen.

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Cry me a river

    3. Jarnathan
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      So does that mean people who didn't use them get another one? How would that work?

    4. FPL.team
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      I used FH and ruined my season but it's the luck of the draw. I wouldn't expect to get it back, just gotta move on now.

    5. Lukakuna
      • 7 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      In FPL this is really no different to a game postponed due to weather

  26. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    All players and staff from Greek football team Olympiakos have tested negative for Covid-19, the club has announced.

  27. FOO FIGHTER
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Should matches be played behind closed doors in weeks to come, will there be any pre-match conferences?

    1. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      With all those germy journos?

      1. FOO FIGHTER
        • 4 Years
        4 years, 18 days ago

        No fplrockstar either then...

  28. FPL Pillars
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Wow FPL in tatters!

    Rip WCers 🙁

    1. Colonel Shoe 肝池
      • 12 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      Hopefully the WC still pays off over 3weeks, but who knows now

  29. Strchld
    • 7 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    Auba C finished then. Took -4 and Vardy out to captain Auba instead Salah. Well done.

    1. Miniboss
      • 5 Years
      4 years, 18 days ago

      It was a right decision considering dgw and form. Unbelievably bad luck.

  30. Kaiser123
    • 4 Years
    4 years, 18 days ago

    No point in making any transfers yet then. Wait until last min.