Meanwhile, Wenger is also now set to step up his attempts to sign highly rated City utility defender Richards, with the club in the midst of a major injury crisis at the back that was only compounded by events in the capital against Villa on Saturday.
The Gunners had already gone into their Premier League opener without the likes of key skipper and centre-back Thomas Vermaelen and Spanish left-back Nacho Monreal, while they then lost central defender Laurent Koscielny after the France international was sent off following two bookable offences, and left-back Kieran Gibbs to yet another injury.
All of which has meant the club can now barely put put out a back four ahead of their vital two-legged Uefa Champions League playoff against Turkish giants Fenerbahce later this month, a tie Arsenal just cannot afford to lose, hence their new interest in Richards.
The 25-year-old is still to discover exactly what role he will be given at Eastlands this season under recently appointed City coach Manuel Pellegrini, with the big-spending Premier League club set to get their new top-flight campaign under way at home to Newcastle United on Monday night.
However, the some-time England international is not expected to be one of the Chilean’s first-choice defenders in the north west going forward judging by his team selections so far in preseason, with Pellegrini favouring experienced Argentinian Pablo Zabaleta in the right-back role, while skipper Vincent Kompany and either Joleon Lescott or Matija Nastasic will fill the centre-back berths for the club.
All of which has encouraged Wenger to make a move for Richards, who only has two years left on his current deal at City and as yet has still to be approached by the club about opening talks on a new contract.
Wenger also knows that Richards, who can operate at either right back or in the centre of defence, is above all desperate to get regular first-team football in the upcoming campaign as he attempts to force his way back into the England setup ahead of next summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
And with Arsenal set to offer the player a bumper five-year deal at the Emirates worth a whopping £100,000 per week to match his present salary at Eastlands, as well as a guaranteed starting berth in his more favoured position of centre back alongside Koscielny in the capital going forward, it is understood that a £15m deal for Richards could be tied up by as early as the end of next week.