Rice, Caicedo, and Three Other Players That Could Help Arsenal’s Title Challenge Next Season

• Arsenal seem to have lost the title race this season after their 4-1 humiliation at Manchester City
• Gunners are still two points ahead with few games left but the Citizens have two games in hand
• A lack of squad depth has been one of the major hindrances for Mikel Arteta's team this season

All stats and analyses are fully behind Manchester City to win the Premier League title after their statement victory over title challengers, Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

The 4-1 scoreline, as embarrassing as it is, does not reflect City's actual dominance in the game and it could have been more if not for the intervention of the Gunners' goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale.

Arsenal were without injured stars William Saliba, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and long-term absentee Mohamed Elneny in the defeat, which shows they lack depth in important areas.

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Sports Brief considers five players they could sign in different areas of the pitch to bolster their depth and mount a title challenge again next season.

Moises Caicedo, Declan Rice

Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are the two central midfielders deployed for most of Arsenal's games this season. Both lack a solid back-up that can provide a competitive presence when out of form.

Caicedo and Rice are two wantaways from Brighton and West Ham, respectively. The Gunners need both - not one -and had a bid of around £70 million for the Ecuadorian rejected in January, according to Goal.

Ivan Fresneda

Ben White is a versatile defender who can play as a right-back and a centre-back but he is one player, not two. Having him as the main full-back and cover for the right centre-back is a dangerous venture.

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Injuries to Tomiyasu and Saliba exposed the Gunners' deficiency in the backline. Real Valladolid's Ivan Fresneda should be a priority in the summer after the deal collapsed in January, as reported by talkSPORT.

Dusan Vlahovic

Gabriel Jesus has been Arsenal's central striker this season. Eddie Nketiah deputised when the Brazilian was injured but he is likely to leave in the summer.

Jesus has been shaky and is very wasteful. Dusan Vlahovic wants away from Juventus, was previously linked to Arsenal, and could offer more competition to the former Manchester City striker.

Bukayo Saka's backup

The England international has been Arsenal most present player due to his fitness. Still, he lacks a worthy back-up in Portuguese starlet, Fabio Vieira, who has deputised like a visitor on the pitch when called upon.

For competitiveness and a workload reduction on Saka, Pain In The Arsenal listed Moussa Diaby, Samuel Chukwueze, and Michael Olise as three potential left-footed wingers for the Gunners to recruit.

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Five dramatic title comebacks

Sports Brief also looked at five teams Arsenal can emulate in making a dramatic comeback in the title race, after they appeared to have lost the title to Man City with five games to go.

One of those teams was Arsene Wenger's title-winning Gunners from the 1997/98 season, who recovered from 11 points down to beat Man United at Old Trafford and lift the EPL title.