Nacho Monreal to Athletic Bilbao: Arsenal left-back wants to stay at Emirates

The Spaniard had been linked with a £7m switch

Nacho Monreal in action for Arsenal against a Singapore Select XI last week (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal left-back Nacho Monreal has rubbished reports that he will move back to Spain and sign for Athletic Bilbao this summer.

Monreal, who moved to he Emirates for £8m in 2013, has been linked with a £7m transfer to the La Liga side. The 29-year-old, however, says that he is not thinking of leaving the Gunners.

"I'm very happy at Arsenal," he told goal.com.

"Of course I enjoyed playing in a lot of the games last season and that is the target again - that is all I can say right now."

Monreal displaced Kieran Gibbs as Arsenal's first-choice left-back last season, playing a total of 39 games in all competitions.

The Spaniard was an unused substitute yesterday as the Gunners defeated Everton 3-1 in the Barclays Asia Trophy final in Singapore.

Arsene Wenger handed a debut to new signing Petr Cech and saw goals from Theo Walcott, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil secure his side victory in front of a crowd of 53,000 at the National Stadium.

Arsenal had sealed their place in the final by beating a Singapore Select XI 4-0, while Everton won through against Stoke after a penalty shootout.