Arsenal Women vs Aston Villa postponed due to Covid case

Three Gunners took an unauthorised trip to Dubai, with one testing positive upon their return

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Arsenal’s Women's Super League match against Aston Villa this Saturday has been postponed.

In a statement, Arsenal Women revealed that the game had been called off after one of their players tested positive for coronavirus, leading several other players at the club to enter a period of self-isolation.

Earlier in the week, Arsenal asked for the match to be postponed, with the positive test result coming after three players took an unauthorised trip to Dubai over Christmas.

“Saturday’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture against Aston Villa Women has been postponed due to health and safety concerns,” the club’s statement read.

“Although initially all of our first-team players tested negative on return from the Christmas break, one player has subsequently tested positive for Covid-19 this week.

READ MORE: Arsenal trio take unauthorised trip to Dubai

“As a result, several first team players are now observing a period of self-isolation as a precaution in accordance with FA and UK Government protocol.

“This fixture will be rescheduled and a new date will be announced in due course.”

Three players visited the United Arab Emirates over the Christmas break, despite London being under tier 4 restrictions that meant travelling abroad was not permitted except for business purposes.

On their return, one Arsenal player tested positive for coronavirus in the second round of testing, with the first showing negative results for all three players.  

All WSL players were warned by their clubs before Christmas to stay at home over the break, but the trio did not inform Arsenal before travelling.

Although it has been reported that the trips caused anger among the team, Arsenal said – following an investigation – that the trips were made for commercial reasons.

Arsenal’s Irish International Katie McCabe, 25, is one of the players, but claimed her trip was for a “business meeting with her agent”, who is also her brother, according to the Telegraph.