Eurosport - Wed, 29 Apr 13:37:00 2009
Arsenal striker Carlos Vela was told to stay away from
training on Tuesday because of fears over swine flu.
The teenager comes from Mexico, where the virus has claimed over
150 lives before spreading around the world.
Vela (pictured in training with Alexandre Song and Cesc
Fabregas) was advised to stay at home after it emerged friends
visited him from Mexico last week.
"It [swine flu] looks to be a massive problem and we were asked
to keep Vela at home on Tuesday, not to allow him to the training
ground," said manager Arsene Wenger.
"It was down to the fact that he had a visit from Mexican
friends, who came to visit him last week and who came to stay at
our training ground."
The health scare threatened to disrupt the Gunners' preparations
for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final away to Manchester
United at Old Trafford.
However, Vela has been cleared to travel to Manchester with the
squad and is expected to feature on the Arsenal substitutes'
bench.
Alex Chick / Eurosport