Manchester United’s match against Brighton on Saturday has been postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak at the Old Trafford club, the Premier League said on Thursday.

“It is with regret that this is the fourth Premier League fixture to have been postponed in the past week,” the league said in a statement.

“While recognising a number of clubs are experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks, it is the League’s intention to continue its current fixture schedule where safely possible. The health and well-being of all concerned remains our priority.”

United had reported a “small number” of cases discovered among first-team staff and players on Sunday. Tuesday’s Premier League trip to Brentford was called off as a result, with the club insisting the situation had got worse.

Brighton had a request to postpone Wednesday’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers rejected by the Premier League, their manager Graham Potter said this week.

Leicester City’s match with Tottenham Hotspur scheduled for Thursday night has also been postponed, taking the total number of Premier League matches cancelled from Sunday onwards to five.

Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said on Wednesday the club’s request to postpone the game due to rising Covid-19 cases in their squad had been denied but more players and staff tested positive on Thursday, which left the league with no choice.

The Premier League found a record 42 cases of Covid-19 among players and staff at various clubs over the past week.

Gunners in top 4

Arsenal moved into the top four at West Ham United’s expense as goals by Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe earned a 2-0 win in a lively London Derby on Wednesday.

Brazilian forward Martinelli struck just after half-time with a clinical finish and substitute fellow youngster Smith Rowe eventually gave a dominant Arsenal some welcome breathing space with a superb 87th-minute effort.

It could have been a more comfortable night for Arsenal had Alexandre Lacazette, captain again in place of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, not had his penalty saved midway through the second half.

West Ham, for whom Vladimir Coufal was red-carded after conceding the penalty, failed to produce the kind of form that has seen them stationed in the top four since October.

The victory hoisted Arsenal up two places into fourth spot with 29 points from 17 games with West Ham on 28.