Arsenal news: Chelsea tipped to make transfer bid for Gunners ace as Mikel Arteta ‘upset’

Arsenal are aiming to end their 21-year wait for another Premier League title this season with a six-point lead, but one player has been tipped for a surprise Chelsea transfer

Arsenal’s conviction that they can break a 21-year Premier League title drought this season strengthens with each match.

Mikel Arteta’s squad have been bridesmaid in each of the last three campaigns, but those painful near-misses proved instrumental in shaping the powerhouse we witness today. This was clear during Sunday’s North London derby, where Tottenham were thoroughly outplayed across every department.

Without last season’s injury nightmare, Arteta might not have recruited so many vital players during the summer, including Eberechi Eze, who bagged a memorable hat-trick in the 4-1 thrashing against the club he almost joined. That was followed up by a dismantling of German giants Bayern Munch in the Champions League.

The Gunners currently hold a six-point advantage over second-placed Chelsea following 12 fixtures in the Premier League, though defeat to the Blues at Stamford Bridge this Sunday could rip the title race wide open. Here’s all the latest Arsenal news.

Arteta discusses set-pieces

Arteta quipped he was “upset” that his team failed to find the net from a set piece during last weekend’s triumph over Spurs.

All four strikes arrived from open play, demonstrating the Gunners remain adept at unlocking defences as they’ve traditionally been renowned for, despite how some have attempted to characterise Arsenal’s style this campaign, reports the Mirror.

Gabriel Magalhaes’ unavailability was a significant loss in the penalty box when attempting to convert from corners, where Arteta’s troops have proved so lethal in recent seasons.

After facing questions about Arsenal’s set-piece dependency throughout the campaign, the Spanish manager quipped at his post-match media briefing: “I am upset we didn’t score with a set piece. I want to score with a set piece as well.”

The north London outfit concluded November with more open play strikes than any other Premier League club.

Ben White tipped for transfer

Shaun Wright-Phillips has forecast Ben White will make a shocking switch to London rivals Chelsea come summer.

White, throughout most of his Gunners tenure, was among the first picks on the team sheet. However, after missing a significant portion of last campaign through injury, the England full-back has been displaced by the formidable Jurrien Timber, managing only 294 minutes this term across six outings in all competitions.

This situation has prompted former Blues winger Wright-Phillips to express sympathy for White, whom he described as “unbelievable” before his setback. He controversially proceeded to suggest Chelsea as an ideal future home for the 28-year-old.

Wright-Phillips told Best Betting Sites: “I could see a move for Ben White to Chelsea take place next summer. It makes sense, it’s possible. I feel quite sorry for Ben because he had an injury, and he was playing so well for Arsenal. He was unbelievable.

“Then he came back and he’d lost his place to Jurrien Timber, who’s the best right-back in the Premier League. It’s going to take something special to unseat him now.”

He further commented: “I don’t think Arsenal would be willing to sell him in the winter window though, because that squad depth is one of Arsenal’s biggest advantages.”