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Paul Lambert will close Bodymoor Heath next week in an attempt to eradicate the virus which left Aston Villa feeling sick during their defeat to Arsenal.

Half a dozen first team players, along with members of the football staff were hit by illness before and during the 3-0 Villa Park defeat to Arsenal.

Nathan Baker and Darren Bent pulled out of the squad this morning, while Ashley Westwood was sick in the warm up and Andi Weimann vomited at half-time.

Brad Guzan and Fabian Delph also had symptoms, prompting Lambert to decide to close the training ground next week in an effort to banish the bug.

“We’ve had so much bad luck this week, even before the game,” said Lambert.

“Nathan Baker pulled out this morning, Darren Bent pulled out this morning.

“Westy was sick during the warm up and Andi was sick at half-time and Guzan’s had it and Delph's had it.

“A lot of the staff are not feeling good, so you’re not best prepared for that magnitude of the game, but I can’t be critical of the start we’ve made."

Lambert, who has been feeling under the weather himself, believes the bug has been doing the rounds at Bodymoor for over a week.

“I think Fabian went into the Liverpool game not feeling the best and Guzan had it this week, but the other four lads were really bad.

“I don’t feel 100 per cent and I think there’s a few of them still in there not feeling that good so I'll probably shut the training ground for a day or so and see if we can eradicate it.”

Lambert admits Arsenal's three-goal flurry just after the half hour mark was a blow for Villa, but the manager refused to be critical of his players.

“Arsenal were clinical and to lose three goals is disappointing," he added. "But I can’t sit here and say I’m disappointed with the start.

“It was a tough game for us, it’s a tough game when everybody is 100 per cent fit, but what happened before the game and during the warm up and at half-time, the lads were running on empty.”