Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is expected to intensify his bid for Barcelona striker David Villa this week. The Daily Star says Villa is top of the Gunners' wanted list.

The Spanish giants would prefer to wait until the summer to sell and are demanding a massive £16m fee for the hotshot if he moved now.

But Wenger knows doing a deal now would strengthen his squad for the tough fixture list ahead.

Arsenal play Manchester City on Sunday 13th, then the replay with Swansea on the 16th, Chelsea four days later, then West Ham on the 23rd and - if they beat the Swans - at Brighton for the FA Cup fourth round on the 26th.