Arsenal have decided to join the race to sign Moussa Dembele after being impressed by the Celtic striker’s recent performances, according to reports.

Moussa Dembele scored a hat-trick in Celtic’s 6-0 Scottish Cup win over Inverness yesterday.

It takes the former Fulham forward’s tally for the season to 26 goals in 40 appearances – including back-to-back hat-tricks. And his prowess in front of goal has reportedly caught the eye of Arsenal.

Dembele had his treble wrapped up before the hour of a one-sided fifth‑round tie after returning from a knee injury to lead Celtic’s second‑half comeback against St Johnstone on Sunday.

Mikael Lustig, Kieran Tierney and Scott Brown also got on the scoresheet for Brendan Rodgers’s men.

According to the Sunday Mirror, the Gunners are willing to match Chelsea’s £40million valuation of the Frenchman.

Celtic successfully fended off Chelsea’s interest in Dembele during the January transfer window but a move in the summer now looks inevitable.

Arsenal have over £200m in hard cash available to them – although the likelihood of the club sanctioning a major spending spree in the summer is low.

They could also have a new manager in place by the start of next season if current boss Arsene Wenger opts to step down.

Dembele, 20, has scored nine goals in seven games since Christmas Eve. He cost the Hoops just £500,000 when arriving from Fulham back in July.

Celtic was adamant in January window they won’t sell Dembele and the player also hadn’t agitated for a move, yet the 20-year-old’s name remains on so many lips.