Arsenal asked Carlos Vela to stay away from their training ground on Monday, amid concerns over the outbreak of swine flu that has claimed more than 150 lives in Mexico.
The club took advice from Government officials after the striker was visited last week by Mexican friends at the London Colney complex, a significant distraction before tonight's Champions League semi-final, first leg away to Manchester United.
After consultations with infectious-disease specialists within the Department of Health, Arsenal's medical staff were informed that there was little cause for disquiet - with the trip taking place before the possible pandemic - but they recommended that Vela undergo tests. Having received the all clear, the player returned to Arsène Wenger's squad yesterday and travelled with his team-mates to the North West.
Asked about swine flu, Wenger detailed the precautions that the club had taken to minimise their exposure to the virus. “It looked to be a massive problem, because we were asked to keep him at home and not let him in to the training ground,” he said.
“It is a problem that is really big. Today, he got the all clear and he was free to attend training, so I asked him about Mexico. It was down to the fact that he had Mexican friends who came to visit him last week and who came to our training ground.”
The 20-year-old is expected to be on the substitutes' bench this evening. Johan Djourou and Mikaël Silvestre, the defenders, who have knee and back injuries respectively, trained yesterday, while Kieran Gibbs, the left back, is expected to recover from a “slight problem” with his back.
Wenger denied that Arsenal would suffer from the absence of the ineligible Andrey Arshavin, who has scored five goals in his past three league matches. “We feel we do well in team play, that's the most important thing,” Wenger said. “One day Arshavin scores four, another day someone else will score.”
The club took advice from Government officials after the striker was visited last week by Mexican friends at the London Colney complex, a significant distraction before tonight's Champions League semi-final, first leg away to Manchester United.
After consultations with infectious-disease specialists within the Department of Health, Arsenal's medical staff were informed that there was little cause for disquiet - with the trip taking place before the possible pandemic - but they recommended that Vela undergo tests. Having received the all clear, the player returned to Arsène Wenger's squad yesterday and travelled with his team-mates to the North West.
Asked about swine flu, Wenger detailed the precautions that the club had taken to minimise their exposure to the virus. “It looked to be a massive problem, because we were asked to keep him at home and not let him in to the training ground,” he said.
“It is a problem that is really big. Today, he got the all clear and he was free to attend training, so I asked him about Mexico. It was down to the fact that he had Mexican friends who came to visit him last week and who came to our training ground.”
The 20-year-old is expected to be on the substitutes' bench this evening. Johan Djourou and Mikaël Silvestre, the defenders, who have knee and back injuries respectively, trained yesterday, while Kieran Gibbs, the left back, is expected to recover from a “slight problem” with his back.
Wenger denied that Arsenal would suffer from the absence of the ineligible Andrey Arshavin, who has scored five goals in his past three league matches. “We feel we do well in team play, that's the most important thing,” Wenger said. “One day Arshavin scores four, another day someone else will score.”