Despite being knocked off the top of the table after reigning Premier League champions Manchester City beat Fulham 2-1, Arsenal are confident they will be able to mount another title challenge next season if they end up missing out this year.
Mikel Arteta's side have been top for much of the campaign, but stuttered last month as they dropped points in three straight games and were then thumped 4-1 by their title rivals. City are now in pole position to win the league once again, with Pep Guardiola's side one point above Arsenal with a game in hand.
Given the Gunners will also be competing in the Champions League next season for the first time since 2017, they will need to significantly strengthen their squad over the summer and Arsenal's sporting director Edu is feeling "very confident about the calibre of player they're going to sign".
That is according to Gunners legend Ian Wright, who told the Athletic : "I went to the training ground the other day and I was with Edu and Mikel, and what's happening now at the club is we're not having to go out and cajole other people to come and join Arsenal. They can see what we're doing.
"Edu is saying his phone is ringing off the hook and they're very confident about the calibre of player they're going to sign. If you're going to challenge this City team, you're going to have to come correct.
"Ideally, we want to finish as high as we can — we want to win it — but I'm excited about the next phase. When you speak to Edu and Mikel, everything is about winning, man. They just want to win.
"And even with some of those games we drew it's only because we were trying to win. It's a new mentality. We're trying to win games, we're not trying to sit off and say, 'Let's hold onto this'."
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is among Arsenal's top targets and Mirror Football understands that Arteta is increasingly confident about their chances of signing the England international. The Gunners boss is keen to hold talks with Rice as soon as the season is over and the fact they can offer Champions League football is a major drawing card.
During the World Cup, Rice admitted he is desperate for an opportunity in the Champions League, stating: "One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League. 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 who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career, and at the end, you want to look back at what you've won and the biggest games you've played in."
