Arsenal further eased the pressure on manager Mikel Arteta with a 1-0 win at Brighton on Tuesday, but the continuation of the Premier League in the coming weeks was cast into doubt after a record 18 positive tests for coronavirus among players and staff earlier in the day. After Manchester City's trip to Everton on Monday was postponed due to a Covid outbreak in Pep Guardiola's squad, all five matches scheduled for Tuesday went ahead despite disruption for Sheffield United and Southampton. Bottom-of-the-table United revealed they had suffered a number of positive Covid-19 cases but were still able to field a squad of 18 for their 1-0 defeat at Burnley. Blades manager Chris Wilder said "a couple of players were missing through illness" plus "four or five backroom staff have tested positive". However, he insisted he wanted the game to go ahead.

"I want to play football. That's how it is, we're not looking to get anything canned. We did the right thing as far as our responsibility to the Premier League and notified them regarding the players that are ill," added Wilder. Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl coached his side from his home for a 0-0 draw against West Ham after a member of his household tested positive. On the field, Arsenal eased fears they could be dragged into a relegation battle with a 3-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday and can now look up the table with hope thanks to consecutive league wins for the first time since the opening two games of the season. "The best medicine is wins. When you win it's a different story and the picture looks better at the moment," said Arteta. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang returned from injury in the place of Alexandre Lacazette in the only change made by Arteta. But Lacazette came off the bench to make an instant impact and win the game with a fine near-post finish from Bukayo Saka's pass just 21 seconds after coming on Victory moves the Gunners up to 13th, within seven points of the top four.