Reece Oxford burst onto the Premier League scene last August when he kept Mesut Ozil firmly in his pocket to help West Ham United record a 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium.
The 17-year-old, who was just 16 when he made his impressive top-flight debut, played as a holding midfielder that day, but he is equally comfortable at centre-back.
Having witnessed the talented teenager first hand, Arsenal are now keen on signing him, according to the Daily Mail, who also credit Manchester City with an interest.
But the same source say that Manchester United are in pole position to sign young Oxford, whose current contract with West Ham is due to expire at the end of next season.
West Ham have played nine matches in all competitions this season and lost six of them.
However, they are unbeaten in the two games in which Oxford has featured this term, winning one and drawing one.