Guardiola "ashamed" of black people's treatment, as Man City beat Arsenal 3-0

Players kneeled in support of Black Lives Matter movement and victims of coronavirus were remembered as Premier League made a somber return on Wednesday from a 100-day shutdown that deprived England of its national sport.

Back on touchline at Manchester City was Arsenal manr Mikel Arteta, whose positive COVID-19 test led to English soccer's longest suspension since World War II.

Britain is still trying to contain one of world's worst outbreaks of coronavirus while also convulsed by a reckoning over racial injustice that roused campaigning passion and anger of Premier League players following death of George Floyd.

text “Black Lives Matter” replaced player names on jerseys during Manchester City's 3-0 victory over Arsenal and Aston Villa's 0-0 draw with Sheffield United. symbolic move that will continue in this weekend's round of games is being accompanied by demands from players for substantive changes to end discrimination and promote diversity.

After opening whistle blew in first game at Villa Park, every player took a knee in a tribute to Floyd, who was killed by a policeman in Minneapolis last month. In Manchester, same gesture took place just before kickoff in a near-empty stadium.

“Obviously it is going to be an odd experience without fans,” Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said. “ Premier League won’t be back with a capital ‘B’ until fans are back.”

Supporters won't be allowed into stadiums for coming weeks at least.