Arteta says he's recovered from COVID-19

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he's recovered from the COVID-19 virus just 10 days after being diagnosed.

"I'm very well now, I feel that I have recovered," Arteta told La Sexta on Sunday, as translated by Adriana Garcia of ESPN FC.

He added: "It took me three or four days to start feeling much better and with more energy, to leave the symptoms behind and now, the truth is that I feel very well."

The Premier League suspended play until April 4 after it was announced the Spaniard tested positive on March 12. English football has since been further postponed until April 30.

Arteta, who had the first confirmed case in the Premier League, said he started to show symptoms before it was revealed Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis tested positive.

Marinakis was diagnosed shortly after Olympiacos' visit to the Emirates Stadium to play Arsenal in February, which sparked fears that players and the coaching staff who were in contact with him were at risk of contracting the virus.

"Everything happened very fast," Arteta said. "On Tuesday afternoon I was feeling so-so and I went to see the doctor but he wasn't there. I got a call from the board of directors after training while I was in my car and they told me that the president of Olympiacos had tested positive and everyone that had been in contact was at risk.

"I went on to tell them that I wasn't feeling well and that we had a situation because we had lots of players that had been in contact with them (Olympiacos). We had a game against Manchester City the next day and obviously we couldn't put lots of people at risk without saying anything."

Arsenal's match against City was called off a day before Arteta tested positive for COVID-19.

"Obviously, all those that had been in contact with me had to go into quarantine, and consequently, games had to be suspended," he added.

Arsenal were due to resume training March 24, as players and coaches were expected to complete their 14 days of isolation on Monday.

However, the club issued a statement Tuesday that, due to the current climate and the uncertainty over when football will resume, "it would be inappropriate and irresponsible to ask players to come back at this time."