Emmanuel Petit has urged Mikel Arteta to sign Spain World Cup star Nico Williams, a player Arsenal attempted to buy last summer, as a potentially cheaper alternative to Morgan Rogers. With Arsenal defending the Premier League title and seeking to avenge a Champions League final loss, Arteta is targeting a new left-winger amid uncertainty over Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli's futures.
Petit backs Williams over Rogers
Morgan Rogers is Arsenal's top target, with the England international reportedly 'quite keen' on the move, but Aston Villa's £100 million-plus valuation may be a stumbling block. Petit, however, suggested exploring a move for Williams, who was heavily linked with Arsenal 12 months ago. 'Arsenal were fighting to get him last season,' Petit told the Sunday Mirror. 'He's so powerful in terms of dribbling. This guy will bring such a huge improvement for Arsenal if they can get him. If he can take Arsenal to the next level, it's money well spent.'
Williams' contract and injury woes
Arsenal competed with Barcelona for Williams last summer, but he signed a new 10-year contract with Athletic Bilbao. That deal includes a reported €100 million (£86 million) release clause, but his base salary of £277,000-a-week makes a transfer difficult. The 2025-26 season was not Williams' best; injuries limited him to 20 La Liga starts, with six goals and four assists. A key player in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, he has been unable to impact the 2026 World Cup and may miss the round of 32 clash against Austria on Thursday due to a groin injury.
Injury update and emotional response
Spain confirmed Williams has a groin injury of 'moderate severity', and it is unclear if he will feature again in the tournament. In an Instagram post, Williams wrote: 'Today is one of the worst days of my life. I'm injured again after a very complicated year... I overcame that injury, and then another one on my hamstring tested me again. Yesterday, I suffered another injury after a challenge by a fellow professional... The story is not over, see you as soon as possible at this World Cup.'
