Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said on Friday he was surprised his side were forced to play their EPL opener at Brentford last week despite a COVID-19 outbreak that saw four players test positive. 

Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Willian and goalkeeper Alex Runarsson missed the match. An extra round of testing was carried out on the day of the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat to the EPL new boys, but Arteta was mystified as to why the precedent of matches being postponed in such circumstances from last season was not continued.