Mikel Arteta's wife issues update on Arsenal manager's health after positive coronavirus test

News that Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi had contracted the virus forced the Premier League to call a halt to the season, with a tentative date of April 4 pencilled in for teams to return to action.

While most observers believe that comeback date will not be met, Arteta's wife Lorena Bernal has confirmed he husband only had mild symptoms and is making a full recovery.

"Under the circumstances that we are right now, I felt the responsibility of sharing our situation," she said in a social media video.

"I want to say thank you to everyone who sent good vibes, texts, emails and calls, really it's been overwhelming. I understand as well that you want to know what's going on.

"My husband is feeling fine, he is well. It's true that he had symptoms of the virus but the symptoms would have never stopped him from going to work in a normal situation.

"He would have just taken a ibuprofen or paracetamol and he would have gone to work so really, it's nothing major. Some temperatures, some headaches but that's it. That's his experience. My kids and I are perfectly well.

"Apparently the virus is not lethal. It could be for a certain amount of people but the majority are going to go through it with mild symptoms. Maybe some people have more symptoms than others but it won't be anything really bad.

"What is true is that apparently it's a new virus (that) nobody has antibodies to fight against it so we are going to be infected if we get exposed to it. The danger is some people are weaker against this virus.

"They said that we have to be isolated and the most important thing is to try not to get exposed or to get other people exposed to the virus. How do we do that? (by) staying at home. It's a hard thing to do because it looks like life is happening outside our homes but we need to stay at home.

"Football, cinema, theatres, schools, universities, everything is pausing which in one way is not that bad. I know in economic ways it's bad but it's not that bad that the world just stops a little bit and we are forced to be home with our kids, parents, brothers, sisters or just with ourselves."

She also suggested the positive test for her husband led her to believe she was also infected but has had the all-clear.

"I wanted to share a little thing," she added. "When the news came out, I was feeling healthy but as soon as the news went out, I got so many texts, messages and calls.

"People were so alarmed and worried that really for some minutes, I worried and thought 'Oh my gosh, my husband has coronavirus, my I have it, maybe the kids will have it.

"I panicked for a few minutes and only by feeling that fear, I kind of started to get symptoms. I felt my chest with pressure, my stomach shrinking my heartbeat was faster suddenly so I realised the symptoms I had were only because I was scared."

Premier League chiefs are due to meet next Thursday to decide whether the competition can be completed this season, with a vote of all 20 members likely to decide whether an attempt is made to restart this campaign.