Arsenal are reportedly closing in on two defensive targets according to reports across Europe as the same players continue to be linked.

Brighton's Ivorian midfielder Yves Bissouma (C) comes under pressure from Liverpool's Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino (L) and Liverpool's Portuguese striker Diogo Jota during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on November 28, 2020. (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Brighton’s Ivorian midfielder Yves Bissouma (C) comes under pressure from Liverpool’s Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino (L) and Liverpool’s Portuguese striker Diogo Jota during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Liverpool at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on November 28, 2020. (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Players can be linked 100 times with Arsenal and never sign. The examples of this are numerous.

But with Evan N’Dicka and Yves Bissouma, we have two players consistently being linked with the club in ways that make you think there might be a little fire to go with all the smoke.

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - FEBRUARY 20: Evan N'Dicka of Eintracht Frankfurt controls the ball with pressure from Andreas Ulmer of RB Salzburg during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Salzburg at Commerzbank Arena on February 20, 2020, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)
FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 20: Evan N’Dicka of Eintracht Frankfurt controls the ball with pressure from Andreas Ulmer of RB Salzburg during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Salzburg at Commerzbank Arena on February 20, 2020, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Bissouma’s agent has already confirmed Arsenal’s interest while N’Dicka has been on Arsenal’s radar since at least March 2020.

Arteta is looking for ball-playing defensive players and, it seems, a replacement for Hector Bellerin who spoke with the manager about leaving last summer but was reportedly asked to give the club another year.

Last month, it was reported that Arsenal have the ‘advantage’ in the race for Eintracht Frankfurt’s centreback, Evan N’Dicka.

Arsenal reportedly have a good relationship with the player’s advisor Michael N’Cho Ibou, who worked with them on the Nicolas Pépé deal, which, given the inflated fee he was purchased for, is perhaps not surprising.