Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was preparing a move for Newcastle’s Tim Krul, but there are fears that the Dutchman could miss the start of next season with the dislocated shoulder he suffered in last weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby defeat.
And as a result, Wenger is now understood to have switched his attention to Mignolet.
Mignolet cost Sunderland £2m when he joined from Belgian side Sint-Truiden in 2010, but since then the 25-year-old has gone on to establish himself as one of the hottest goalkeeping properties in the Premier League and would now command a fee well in excess of £10m.
His current deal with the Wearsiders runs until 2015.