Arsenal are reportedly lining up a bid for Saints midfielder Victory Wanyama with captain Mikel Arteta out with an ankle injury.

The Gunners have already raided St Mary's for Calum Chambers this summer, who has proved his quality in several assured performances for Arsene Wenger's side.

Now they've supposedly turned their attentions to Wanyama.

Earlier in the summer the 23-year-old was forced to deny that he was keen on an exit from Saints.

In an interview with Nairobi-based Capital Sport, the Kenyan apparently spoke about playing for a side in the Champions League.

“I will be happy to play in any team that is in the Champions League, that’s my aim, I wanted to face a new challenge in English Premier League and now that I’ve conquered it, very soon I will be going back to playing in the biggest tournament in the world,” he is quoted as saying.

Wanyama moved to dampen the reaction to the words, writing on his Twitter page: “I have been miss quoted [sic] they didn't get my point”.

He did not expand on which part of the interview he was unhappy about.

It seems unlikely at this stage that the reported Arsenal link will come to anything.