Arsenal announced on Monday that 20-year old Nico Yennaris had left the club to join up with League One promotion chasing side Brentford.

Yennaris, who is capable of playing in either defence or midfield, came through the Arsenal academy, having joined the club at the age of 7, and progressed right the way through the youth set-up, eventually making his debut for the first team in the League Cup win over Bolton in 2011. However, the youngster only made a further three appearances for the Gunners since his debut.

Over his last 7 years at the club Bacary Sagna has become an extremely regular and important figure at the club. Despite him not performing how he should last season, this season he has been absolutely superb and irreplaceable in the back 4.

France Football today reported that Wenger is confident Sagna will extend his stay at the Emirates. They also added that the contract would be a 3 year extension worth 5 million Euros per season.

Sagna is very positive towards his current squad by saying:

Arsenal will look to tighten their grip on 1st place in the Premier League in a fixture which they have failed to lose in since 2002.

The Gunners are unbeaten against Southampton in their last 9 meetings, with the last meeting between the two ending a resounding 2-0 to Arsenal courtesy of an Olivier Giroud brace gifted to him by Saints stopper Artur Boruc.

The last two meetings at St Mary’s have ended 1-1, most recently last season when Gaston Ramirez’s drive was cancelled out by a Guly do Prado own goal.

Southampton have fallen from their perch somewhat recently, after commandeering a Champions League spot for the opening exchanged of the season. They now sit 9th after a 7 game winless streak saw them free-fall down the table.

Schalke are stubborn on their £35million valuation on the German however Arsenal’s tabled £30million offer is likely to reach the required figure with add-ons.

Fee

MailOnline writer Rob Draper has reported that a small compromise in the fee is likely to take place, however should not affect the overall outcome of the negotiations:

Numerous reports from Germany have claimed that Arsenal’s chase for Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler has been successful.

Arsenal have had Draxler on the radar since the Summer, where the signing of Mesut Ozil glossed over any possible move for the youngster, however he now looks set to join despite signing a contract extension to 2018.

Deal Sealed?

A fee has supposedly been agreed between the German side and Arsenal, according to former Norway striker and German pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft.

Fjortoft played for Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Barnsley in England, and took to Twitter to reveal the breaking news: