Ashley Williams flattered by Arsenal interest

Swansea City captain Ashley Williams has expressed interest from the Gunners as "flattering", while admitting that he aims to play for a club in the Champions League in the future.

Williams has been linked with Arsenal throughout the summer transfer window with the Gunners boss Arsene Wenger seeking to add more quality to his back-line.

The Welsh International has appreciated the interest from the North London outfit while not taking more from the transfer speculation.

He told The Mirror: "It's all very flattering, but you take it with a pinch of salt because you see a lot written and you never know what to make of it. I just take it as a compliment. You must be doing something right, whether it's true or not. I try to leave it there.


"All players with any kind of ambition want to see how high they can get, whether that's with their team, which has been the case with me at Swansea, or whatever really. If I sat here and said I didn't want to play in the Champions League, that'd be a lie. But at the same time, I'd never disrespect a team I play for and say 'that's it, I'm desperate to leave' just after a story in the paper. I'd never do that or think that.

"As professionals, like you guys, you want to see how far you can go in your career and competing for titles is where everyone wants to be. However you get there and it's a different story."

Swansea City begin their league campaign against the Premier League holders Manchester United  today at the Liberty Stadium.