Arsenal could benefit from a Premier League rule change in the coming weeks, giving them the upper hand over a rival for a potential replacement to Thomas Partey. The Ghanaian midfielder is set to miss over a month of action, expected to keep him out until the new year as football.london understands he has recently undergone a procedure.

football.london also understands that Arsenal are surveying their midfield options after losing Thomas Partey to another injury, with Martin Zubimendi and Douglas Luiz among the names linked. One of those names that has also been linked in recent days is former Wolves star Ruben Neves.

The 26-year-old joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in the summer, despite previously being rumoured with a switch to some of the biggest teams in Europe. The Portuguese international has played 15 games across all competitions so far for his new club, though there continue to be links with an exit.

Arsenal aren't the only team eyeing Neves to bolster their options though as their Premier League rivals Newcastle United are also in the frame. That interest for the Magpies follows the loss of summer signing Sandro Tonali, who will miss the rest of the season for a ban from breaching betting regulations.

There are plenty of questions surrounding Eddie Howe making such a switch for the midfielder though, given the ownership and possible conflict of interest. Newcastle are owned by the Saudi Arabian state's Public Investment Fund, which also happens to own Neves' Al-Hilal and a host of other teams.

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That has brought up plenty of ethical questions regarding a deal within the same ownership group, which will be addressed soon by Premier League clubs. Recent reports claim that at the next shareholders meeting, all 20 clubs will discuss and vote on a possible ban on loans across associated clubs.

Should that rule change go ahead, Arsenal would be handed a huge boost in their efforts to land Neves ahead of Newcastle, who would no longer be able to make such a deal.