Second Arsenal player tests positive for coronavirus as Gunners wait on winger for Leeds United after Dubai trip

Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac has tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The 27-year-old was due to face Italy in the Nations League on Wednesday evening with his country but is now self-isolating after contracting the virus.

Kolasinac will miss this weekend’s Premier League clash with Leeds United at Elland Road in line with current government guidelines.

The left-back is the second Gunners squad member to return a positive test in recent days after Egyptian international Mohamed Elneny was also found to have the virus.

The pair will enter a period of self-isolation before returning to the UK in the coming weeks.

Arsenal winger Willian also must return a negative test for COVID-19 after it emerged the Brazilian had travelled to Dubai over the November international break.

People returning from the United Arab Emirates do not need to self-isolate, but current protocols state that “travelling away from home, including internationally, is restricted from England except in limited circumstances such as for work or for education.”

Willian must be cleared of the virus before he can return to training with Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the Whites.

Kolasinac has made just one top flight appearance this term at the Emirates while Elneny has featured five times for Arsenal and has struck up a solid partnership with headline summer signing Thomas Partey in the centre of midfield.

Willian has made seven league appearances since his summer move from Chelsea.