Arsenal have been excellent thus far during the 22/23 campaign, topping their Europa League group and perching atop the Premier League table as the season paused for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

And with the tantalising, agonising thought of securing the league title after almost two decades now emerging from the obscurity of the fog like a towering, gleaming pillar, the Gunners are searching for shrewd signings in the January transfer window to bolster the pack, and prevent a slide from grace in the latter half of the campaign.

Gabriel Jesus was recently felled while performing for Brazil at the World Cup, now facing an extended period on the sidelines, and while the frontline still boasts considerable might, the slick, cohesive model has lost a chunk of its brilliance.

Should another key figure be lost to injury, Arsenal’s finely-poised balance may just take a detrimental tumble, and as such, the hierarchy are looking to act swiftly.

With The Sun reporting in October that Gunners owner Stan Kroenke is set to bless manager Mikel Arteta with funds this winter, with a winger, centre-midfielder, and defender the priority.

And one ace that could slip his way into transfer plans is Adrien Rabiot, who has been excelling at the World Cup with France, cementing a starting role in the world champion’s team.

His influence and presence have indeed earned plaudits, with Frederic Piquionne tweeting: “Adrien Rabiot is the Emmanuel Petit of 98 best player in the World Cup.”

Such a comparison is high praise indeed, with the 27-year-old exhibiting attributes of tenacity, guile and intelligence that embodied Petit’s starring role as France clinched gold on home turf at the 1998 World Cup.

Rabiot has recorded an average rating of 7.35 in Qatar, scoring during the opening group game against Australia and completing 88% of his passes as France breezed into the quarter-finals, where a clash against England awaits.

Also averaging 1.8 shots per match, making 2.5 tackles and 1.3 interceptions, the “complete” dynamo's versatility has proved invaluable for Les Bleus.

Now emerging as a “key player” for the side, as praised by teammate Ibrahima Konate, the £21.5m-rated star would be a sterling addition to this title-chasing Gunners team, tightening a formidable grip on the hold the team has on the domestic scene at present.

With the player’s club Juventus willing to sell him to Manchester United in the summer, with the move failing to pass the finish line, Arsenal will know that they might just have some success in drawing him over to north London, and should do so with swift conviction.