Steven Gerrard may have played his last game for Liverpool, but the Merseyside outfit seem to have replaced the veteran with a more versatile and younger version of the former England captain as it is rumoured that James Milner has chosen to play for the Anfield club next season snubbing Arsenal on course.

Arsenal were amongst a host of Premier League sides, who were keeping tabs on the England international given his imminent Manchester City departure, but it is now evident that the Gunners have lost out on their transfer target.

Theo Walcott showed Arsenal what they would miss in the event of offloading him with a first-half hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion in the final game of Premier League, but English media suggest that the former Southampton starlet may still be used as Raheem Sterling bait this summer.

The 27-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and it is believed that Arsene Wenger is adamant not to let him mess around by setting a deadline for him to decide on his future with the Gunners.

Morgan Schneiderlin has been a subject of interest from Arsenal for a long time now, but the transfer has never come to fruition due to the reluctance of Southampton to sell their talisman after losing their stars to the might of Premier League giants.

The Frenchman has time and again expressed his desire to play Champions League football, which is highly unlikely as long as he plies his trade with the Saints and has even voiced his frustration over the south coast side not letting him take his career to a new level.

Jose Mourinho stated in March that he would not attempt to veto the decision of Petr Cech to leave Chelsea at the end of the season, but he seemed to contradict himself as he confessed that he would keep the Czech Republic international against his wishes.

The 32-year-old was rumoured to be on the wish-list of Arsene Wenger and given his close associates with Roman Abramovich, it was believed that he would ply his trade with the Gunners next season despite them being city-nemeses.

However, it is now understood that the Blues, if not, Mourinho would not let him join their direct rivals.

Despite Chelsea clinching the title, Arsenal have been the team to beat this calendar year and Arsene Wenger hopes to carry their current form to the next season as the French manager lays his team to launch an all-out attack at the title next season with a summer scoop of two Premier League players.

Petr Cech has been embroiled in transfer rumours linking him with the Gunners as he does not seem interested in playing second string to Thibaut Courtois.

Arsene Wenger is reportedly confident of pulling a deal off for the Chelsea shot-stopper ahead of Liverpool.