Nico Williams sends Arsenal clear transfer message as Martin Odegaard makes shock injury claim

Mikel Arteta will be keen to extend Arsenal’s winning streak following the international break. After storming past Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the Gunners have now won each of their last four games across all competitions, and they remain unbeaten in the Premier League since April.

Cameron Archer fired the Saints ahead shortly after half-time, but Kai Havertz found an equaliser just minutes later. Then, Gabriel Martinelli, who replaced Raheem Sterling on the hour-mark, put Arsenal ahead before Bukayo Saka put the final nail in the coffin in the last moments.

The north Londoners bagged three crucial points in the title race, but they remain one adrift of Liverpool, who currently top the table.

Odegaard gives surprise injury update

Martin Odegaard has claimed he’s ‘getting better and better by the day’ as he continues to nurse an ankle injury. In a column in the matchday programme for Arsenal’s clash against Southampton, the Gunners skipper wrote: “In the last week or so I’ve made really good progress.

“I’m getting better and better by the day and feel it’s going well. When you feel like things are moving forward, it gives you motivation to do more and more and work harder. Today is our last game before another international break, so that gives me some more time to work on the rehab, too.

“Hopefully it won’t be much longer — I think we will know more as soon as I get out on the training pitches and we see how my ankle responds to that. “t the moment it’s progressing well and it looks better than we were thinking, but we’ve still got to take every day as it comes.”

football.london says: “Arsenal aren’t back in action until October 19, so that gives Martin Odegaard two weeks to work towards match fitness. I don’t necessarily think he’ll be thrown into the starting lineup straight after the international break, but I think he could make the matchday squad. He’s been a huge miss!”

Williams insists he’s ‘happy’

Nico Williams has insisted he’s ‘happy’ at Athletic Bilbao despite questions marks regarding his future. The 22-year-old winger was heavily linked with an exit from his boyhood club in the summer transfer window, with Arsenal among several clubs mooted as a potential destination.

In an interview with Spanish publication AS, Williams was quizzed on his future at Bilbao. He said: “I am happy in Bilbao, I have decided to stay here. It is incredible to see the atmosphere that was created after the game against AZ.”