It was the call that senior football figures had been dreading, but knew was inevitable. Most almost smile ruefully now about remembering where they were when told. On Friday 13 March 2020, it was confirmed that Mikel Arteta became the English game’s first major figure to suffer from Covid-19. This was it, as a slow creep suddenly became abrupt upheaval.
What stands out for club officials reflecting now is the crippling uncertainty, the sheer speed of events, and the need for instant, massive decisions. The initial Covid-19 shutdown, which has its fifth anniversary this week, wasn’t just head-spinning but like a parallel reality. That’s fitting, since it changed the entire football world, and continues to have impact.
