David Luiz leads the Arsenal stars arriving in shifts for isolated training after 47 DAYS away, as Gunners become the first Premier League team to head back to work after coronavirus suspension
- Arsenal players were pictured upon arrival back at training on Monday morning
- After 47 days of lockdown they worked in isolation on ten-pitch complex
- Stars were not allowed to socialise and must still follow distancing guidelines
- Five players at a time worked on separate pitches with individual footballs
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
David Luiz and Alexandre Lacazette were among the Arsenal stars back in training at their Colney base on Monday for the first session after lockdown.
After 47 days away from their HQ due to coronavirus restrictions, the Gunners were permitted to train separately on their own pitches with their own designated balls.
Each member of the senior squad had to travel alone and Emilio Martinez pulled up in his convertible red Corvette while Luiz was pictured rolling up to the facility in St Albans shortly afterwards.
David Luiz was among the first to arrive with the players still told not to socialise
Alexandre Lacazette also pulled up in his Mercedes on Monday morning in St Albans
Emiliano Martinez rolled up to Arsenal training in his convertible as the players returned
Alexandre Lacazette was among the first group with the French striker driving into the base in his Mercedes.
And Hector Bellerin was also among the stars snapped behind the wheel as he wore earphones while entering Colney.
The government has urged the Premier League to try to get games back on by June to lift the mood of the country and Arsenal’s return to action, albeit in isolation, is an encouraging step.
It has been seven weeks since the players were last able to training in the familiar surroundings but strict coronavirus guidelines are still in place.
A number of players have experienced issues trying to go out for runs at home as fans are desperate to interact with them, get an autograph or a selfie.
Hector Belerin listened to music through some earphones as he made his entrance
Arsenal believe the plans they have put in place now will allow players the ability and freedom to safely gain their fitness back.
Mikel Arteta’s men have an entire pitch each to themselves at the ten-pitch Hertfordshire complex in Colney, with five spare.
The return to work is voluntary and players had to travel alone with only five allowed to train at one time.
A staggered series of one-hour sessions is spread throughout the day with medical and fitness staff overseeing each one from afar and the players banned from socialising with each other.
Pablo Mari was also one of the Arsenal players entering the complex on an overcast day
They even had their own specifically assigned football to avoid cross-contamination.
All the buildings will remain locked so each player had to arrive in their kit and shower and change at home.
There has been a thorough deep clean of the £10million training base and this is the first time it has opened since Mikel Arteta tested positive for coronavirus on March 12.
He was the first big name in English football to contract the virus and it triggered 100 members of staff going into isolation, prompting a suspension of the Premier League.
Arteta’s positive test came after it emerged that Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis had also contracted the virus and had been in contact with Arteta and others during his side’s Europa League clash in London.
The Spaniard later opened up on his experience with Covid-19. He said: ‘I’m very well now, I feel that I have recovered. 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 well.’
