Roma are tracking Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen as director Daniele Prade keeps an eye on him.

Sportal.it claims Prade was in London watching Arsenal during their 5-0 win over Porto in the Champions League, and he was impressed with what he witnessed from the Belgian.

Vermaelen has been enjoying a stellar season with the Gunners, and Roma are pondering to fire away with an offer.

It is said Philippe Mexes is likely to leave at the end of the season, and the Italians have identified Vermaelen as a replacement.

The Lupi have also been linked with William Gallas after Claudio Ranieri expressed his admiration for him.

Cesc Fabregas has challenged Arsenal to seize the opportunity to keep their title challenge alive with victory at Hull on Saturday.

The Gunners head to the KC Stadium without their influential midfielder, who has been hampered by a hamstring problem and did not feature in the 5-0 midweek Champions League victory over Porto.

Since successive defeats to Manchester United and Chelsea, Arsene Wenger's men have put together a run of four straight league victories to haul themselves right back into the title race, and indeed could even go top should Chelsea fail to beat West Ham.

There is, though, now little margin for further error over the final nine games of the campaign, with just two points separating the top three sides.

Fabregas declared: "We have never talked (about the title), we just kept going and going - but now even more it is the time to be doing our talking on the pitch because we have a great opportunity."

Fabregas insists there is no chance of him asking manager Wenger for a rest in order to protect against further injury.

The Spain midfielder was ruled out for several weeks earlier in the season because of a similar problem.

Fabregas, however, is convinced the injury is something that occurs after a concerted run of games rather than because of any particular tweaks or strains - but does not want Wenger to cut back his playing time as the Gunners fight for glory at home and in Europe.

"I never (ask to be rested). I love playing football, I was feeling good (when the injury happened against Burnley) and you never know when that is going to happen. As long as you are feeling good you just want to play," Fabregas said.

"All the time it is the same hamstring and last season I missed the Manchester United game because of the same thing.

"It's four or five times now in the same area. I don't know what's going on, but that's why it's better that I take my time and come back when I'm ready.

"It's not that I have strained it, it is just a little bit of fluid that is there and it keeps me out for between five and six days."

With 69 goals, Arsenal are the leading scorers in the Premier League ahead of this weekend's fixtures.

However, 14 of those have come from Fabregas.

Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner wasted a string of chances against Burnley last weekend, but made amends by grabbing a hat-trick against Porto.

Wenger, however, is not concerned by who scores - just as long as Arsenal continue to find the net on a regular basis.

"We have the best attack in the Premier League this season - and our strikers have not scored as many goals," he said.

"So for us it is important our team play is right, then anyone can score in our team.

"There is no special responsibility on any given striker to score goals."