Alex Ferguson responded to Everton's early season move for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer by making an inquiry for the 19 year old. Ball is rated as one of the best young left backs in the country and is seen as a great prospect for the future. That is why Arsenal are also looking at the possibility of capturing him with a view to replacing Nigel Winterburn.
Weekend press speculation has also linked Arsenal with Liverpool's right back Rob Jones who would be available on a free at the end of the season. Jones is out of favour at Anfield and hasn't played in the first team this season.
Meanwhile three top strikers are thought to have been watched by Highbury scouts in recent weeks; Rosenborg star Sigurd Rushfeldt, Middlesborough's Mikkel Beck and West Brom's Lee Hughes.