Arsenal star Willian confident Dubai trip did not breach coronavirus travel rules

Willian is confident that he has not broken any government guidelines with his lockdown trip to Dubai being made for business reasons.

The Arsenal winger was pictured on the Instagram of Nusret Gokce, the famous restaurateur better known as "Salt Bae", at his Nusr-Et steakhouse in Dubai on Monday.

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

Having returned to London, the 32-year-old has been told he must provide a negative test before returning to training with Mikel Arteta's squad ahead of their game against Leeds United this weekend.

The former Chelsea man, who joined Arsenal on a free transfer over the summer, has made a slow start to life in north London. The Brazilian set up two goals on the opening day in a win over Fulham, but is yet to score and has not registered another assist since the victory at Craven Cottage.

Willian's trip abroad - thought to be in order to fulfil image contracts in Asia - adds further complications for Arteta after midfielder Mohamed Elneny tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty with Egypt. Elneny's positive result followed that of Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, the Egypt captain, who tested positive after attending his brother's wedding in his home country.

Gunners captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has also had complications during the international break, the striker complaining that he and his Gabon teammates felt like "hostages" having been stuck in a Gambia airport for hours overnight ahead of their game on Monday.

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