LONDON: Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea had been among the many golf equipment who stepped up their preparations for the Premier League’s return by holding apply matches on Saturday.
Golf equipment try to construct up gamers’ health in addition to get used to taking part in with out followers earlier than the league resumes on June 17 following a 100-day suspension as a result of coronavirus pandemic.
The league additionally introduced Saturday that the sixth spherical of Covid-19 testing of 1,195 gamers and employees throughout the 20 golf equipment on Thursday and Friday produced no positives.
Saturday’s announcement means there have been a mere 13 positives from an general 6,274 exams carried out on Premier League gamers and membership employees.
Testing will proceed on a twice-weekly foundation as officers look to renew a season that was suspended in March due to the pandemic.
Arsenal, which shall be in motion on the primary evening again away to Manchester Metropolis, beat second-tier Charlton Athletic 6-Zero in a pleasant at an empty Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal hosted Charlton behind closed doorways and with officiating roles carried out by membership employees.
Alex Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored earlier than halftime whereas academy graduate Eddie Nketiah grabbed a second-half hat-trick. Joe Willock was additionally on course.
Manchester United, who play Tottenham Hotspur on their return on June 19, staged a recreation between members of the first-team squad recreation at Previous Trafford on Saturday.
United supervisor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have been notably happy to see Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba again in motion after the pair spent a sustained interval out by way of damage previous to the season being suspended. Gamers drove to the stadium of their match kits and the match was refereed by health coach Charlie Owen.
Chelsea additionally hosted a pleasant between their very own gamers at Stamford Bridge. The Blues at present occupy fourth spot within the struggle for Champions League qualification, three factors away from United, and can resume their marketing campaign in opposition to Aston Villa on June 21.
Supervisor Frank Lampard and his teaching employees acted as officers for the match, which noticed the squad break up and put on their dwelling and away package.
Villa, who’re two factors from security within the relegation battle, performed a pleasant in opposition to West Bromwich Albion, whose second-tier marketing campaign is because of resume later this month.
Printed in Daybreak, June eighth, 2020
