The remainder of the Premier League season is in doubt tonight after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for coronavirus.

The top-flight's governing body had initially confirmed all Premier League games would go ahead as planned this weekend, but events have moved rapidly following confirmation of the Gunners' boss diagnosis and an emergency club meeting will now be convened for tomorrow morning.

Calls have been mounting for matches in the English leagues to be played behind closed doors or suspended after numerous competitions across Europe and beyond decided on at least a temporary halt to matches due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to Arsenal's announcement, Manchester City had tonight confirmed one of their senior players is self-isolating due to the risk of coronavirus, while Leicester City announced earlier that three of their players had been kept away from the rest of the Foxes squad after displaying symptoms ahead of Saturday’s trip to Watford.

Arsenal's statement on their website reads: "Our London Colney training centre has been closed after head coach Mikel Arteta received a positive COVID-19 result this evening.

"Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines. We expect this to be a significant number of people from Colney, including the full first-team squad and coaching staff, as well as a smaller number of people from our Hale End Academy which we have also temporarily closed as a precaution.

"We expect those who did not have close contact with Mikel to return to work in the coming days. In the meantime our Colney and Hale End training centres will undergo a deep clean and our other club sites are operating as normal."

The statement added: "It is clear we will not be able to play some fixtures on their currently scheduled dates. We will update supporters who have tickets for forthcoming games with more information as soon as possible.

"We are now working to trace any other people who have had recent close contact with Mikel.  We will let them know what has happened and they should follow the NHS guidance which is likely to recommend self-isolation."

Further to the Gunners statement, the Premier League said: "In light of Arsenal’s announcement tonight confirming that their first-team coach Mikel Arteta has tested positive for COVID-19, the Premier League will convene an emergency club meeting tomorrow morning regarding future fixtures.  

"The Premier League will make no further comment until after that meeting."