Arsenal are on course to bolster their squad in the January transfer window as their Premier League title race with Manchester City heats up. Mikel Arteta's side are currently eight points clear at the top of the tree and could be busy in the market to ensure they do not drop off.
The Gunners have marked their return to domestic action following the World Cup with two wins and a goalless draw over Newcastle. Despite being without Gabriel Jesus due to injury, Arteta's men have continued their impressive form to stretch their lead over Pep Guardiola's side to eight points.
Despite being top, question marks over Arsenal's squad depth remain and were only compounded by Jesus' World Cup injury. Arteta has hinted that the club are going to be "active" in the January window to "strengthen the team" in January, with Shakhtar Donetsk's Mykhaylo Mudryk deemed a priority.
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The overhaul and progress made at the Emirates Stadium under the Spaniard has heavily relied on the recruitment conducted by technical director Edu Gaspar. The previous two summer windows have seen major changes for Arsenal's squad made with the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jesus all signed during pre-season.
Whilst there's external pressure for the Gunners to recruit this month, there will be some focus on the upcoming summer window as the club look likely to secure Champions League football for next season. And recent reports have claimed Arsenal are eyeing a move for Declan Rice in an attempt to hijack Chelsea's potential deal.
The West Ham skipper has been tipped to leave the Hammers and return to Cobham, where he played at youth level, for some time. Rice is currently valued at £70million by CIES Football Observatory - although in reality it could be more than that - and enters the final two years of his current deal at the London Stadium in June.
According to CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs [via Si & Dan Talk Chelsea], Arsenal are eyeing up a swoop for the England international and West Ham could be forced to sell in the summer following their poor season.
Should both sides make an official bid for Rice, the Gunners face difficulties convincing the player to choose a move to north London. However, Arteta's men hold an essential advantage. During the World Cup, Rice claimed he wanted to play in the Champions League, an essential that Arsenal may be able to offer.
"Yeah - one hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League," the 23-year-old said. "For the last two or three years I've been saying that. I've been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing.
"I see my friends here (with England at the World Cup), who are playing Champions League and competing for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end of it you want to look back at what you've won and the biggest games you've played in. I really want to do that."
Chelsea sit 10th in the table and are 10 points behind Manchester United in fourth going into tonight's (Thursday) game with Manchester City.
Graham Potter's side face a tough task of finishing in the top four with the teams above them all hitting impressive form whilst Arsenal, who sit 11 points clear of Tottenham in fifth, are on course to feature in next season's Champions League.
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