Arsenal to back Mikel Arteta’s Premier League title bid and bankroll January transfer splurge

Few people at the Emirates expected the team to be challenging for the title this summer and have been pleasantly surprised to see opening a healthy lead over Big Six rivals Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs.

But now they are only two points ahead of Champions Manchester City following Sunday̢۪s 1-1 draw at Southampton.

And little more than a quarter of the way into the campaign, there are already concerns that the surprise table toppers are already starting to feel the pace.

Arteta has been >Premier League but has also been forced to select a number of those players in the Europa League group games.

He is particularly keen to ease the workload on Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka, who have featured in all 15 Arsenal games so far this season.

Plans to make another bid for Aston Villa̢۪s Douglas Luiz have been scrapped after he recently signed a new long-term contract.

Now Arsenal could revive their interest in another Brazilian midfielder, the 21-year-old Palmeiras star Danilo.

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Arsenal made two unsuccessful bids for Luiz on transfer deadline day but also sounded out Palmeiras about a potential deal for Danilo.

They were prepared to pay £22m but the Brazilian League leaders were not interested in selling their young star while they were still involved in the Copa Libertadores.

But with the Brazilian season finishing before next month’s World Cup finals, Arsenal believe that Palmeiras could be willing to cash in on Danilo in January and will test their resolve with an improved £26million bid.

They are also in the market for another winger and are currently keeping track of Shakhtar Donetsk’s young Ukrainian international Mykhaylo Mudryk and Villarreal’s exciting 20-year-old Yeremy, who would both cost somewhere in the region of £25m.