Arsenal will rival Chelsea for Ben Arfa

Arsenal are reportedly ready to rival Chelsea for the signing of Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

Arsene Wenger is willing to compete with the Stamford Bridge club for the France international, who has welcomed the interest due to worries over the amount of first team action he would get in Roberto di Matteo’s side, according to The Mirror.

The Gunners have already added Germany striker Lukas Podolski this summer and the signing of Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud is expected to be completed once his duties at Euro 2012 with the France squad have finished.

The Blues, meanwhile, have splashed out on Belgium playmaker Eden Hazard and Werder Bremen’s Marko Marin – both players who would occupy similar positions to Ben Arfa.

The 25-year-old returned from a broken leg earlier this season and begun to regain some of the form that convinced Newcastle to purchase him while he was still in recovery.

A surge of good form almost helped the Toon claim a top four spot and also booked his seat on the plane to Poland and Ukraine with Les Bleus.