Arsenal will have their work cut out for them on New Years Day as they lock horns with league leaders Manchester City. Unfortunately, the Gunners will be without their boss, Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard has tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time:

Arteta also contracted the virus in March of 2020 when the pandemic began. He's done a phenomenal job with Arsenal as of late after an atrocious start to the campaign, with the Gunners currently sitting in fourth spot. The North Londoners have won five straight matches across all competitions, scoring 16 goals in the process and conceding just twice.

Arsenal's latest game on Tuesday was postponed due to an outbreak within the Wolves' squad. It's definitely a bummer that Arteta will miss this City clash because after all, he spent time under Pep Guardiola as an assistant coach before taking over at the Emirates. The Gunners are 12 points back of the Citizens heading into Saturday's meeting.

The 39-year-old is facing an isolation period of seven days, which means he could return for Arsenal's League Cup tie with Liverpool on January 6th. Arteta isn't the only Premier League manager who is quarantining from COVID-19, with Aston Villa's Steven Gerrard and Crystal Palace's Patrick Viera also sidelined because of the virus.

The English top-flight registered 103 cases within the last week, the highest number since this whole fiasco began. But, despite the postponements of numerous fixtures over the last few weeks, the EPL has no plans of stopping play.