Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has advised Arsenal that they need to add four new signings to their squad if they are to dominate the Premier League once more.
The Blues and the Gunners drew 0-0 on Sunday to move Mourinho's side one step closer to a fourth Premier League title—they need just six more points from their remaining five games to confirm their triumph.
Arsenal have not won the title since 2003-04—the season of the "Invincibles" in which Arsene Wenger's men did not lose a match—but Mourinho believes they are not far from challenging once again, per Darren Lewis in the Mirror:
It's even more difficult to dominate than before. How can you speak about domination when everyone knows what will happen next summer? Arsenal have a phenomenal squad. The other night, Thierry Henry said they need four top-class players. Give Arsenal four top-class players and I think they will again be the Invincibles.
After a lengthy spell of frugality, Arsenal and Wenger seem to have loosened the purse strings somewhat in recent summers, and they have benefited as a result.
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez were marquee signings in 2013 and 2014 respectively, and the Gunners may well splash out again once the current season is over.
Dybala, Gomez and Schneiderlin all Targeted
Palermo striker Paolo Dybala has been targeted by the Gunners for some time, and they reportedly put in a bid for the 21-year-old in March, per Simon Jones on MailOnline.
Per WhoScored.com, the youngster has netted 13 times and assisted 10 in the league this season and would bring added firepower to the Gunners front line.
However, the Argentinian Dybala is being pursued by many other top clubs, including Juventus and Barcelona. He has recently talked of his delight at reported interest from Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini, per La Repubblica (h/t GianlucaDiMarzio.com):
Mancini's interest in me makes me happy, it's something that fills me with pride, but when I go out on the pitch I don't think about who's in the stands. When I go out on the pitch I only think about giving the best for myself and my team. I don't think about that someone is sitting in the stands observing me. [...]
There is no agreement in place with Juventus. The only agreement I have is with Palermo. This is the only agreement which I hold on to and which I aim to respect until the end.
As Jones reported, Palermo president Mauro Zamparini wants £30 million for Dybala, a big price for someone so young.
But he has enormous potential and he could improve hugely under Wenger's tutelage, making Dybala a genuinely attractive transfer target for the Gunners.
Arsenal look to be in the driving seat to sign Charlton's young defensive star Joe Gomez. According to Adrian Kajumba in the Mirror, the 17-year-old is being pursued by both Manchester clubs also, but the Gunners lead the way.
Gomez has been impressive in the Championship this season, earning a nomination for Apprentice of the Year, per Charlton:
A centre-back who can also play on the right, Gomez is valued at £8 million, per Kajumba, and looks to be another youngster who would add necessary depth to the Gunners squad.
In terms of marquee signings, Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their long-term pursuit of Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin, with Saints' head of football development Les Reed insisting he is not for sale, per Sky Sports' Amy Lewis:
It wouldn't be our intention to sell any of our players this summer. We're in the process of renegotiating contracts with some but our main purpose at the moment is keeping this squad together and adding to it.
Arsenal have long needed a world-class defensive midfielder in their ranks and the French international looked to be the obvious choice given his excellence at Southampton. Now it seems, the Gunners will need to look elsewhere.
Arsenal have finished the Premier League season very well, and although they will not win the title in 2015, next term could well be their year, per B/R UK's James McNicholas:
The addition of a few more quality players to the squad this summer and, as Mourinho suggests, Arsenal will be a definite threat to Chelsea in 2015-16.
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