Unai Emery hinted Danny Welbeck is closing in on a first Premier League start of the season after scoring a brace in the Carabao Cup third-round win over Brentford.

The England forward has played a fringe role in the league under Emery, but played the entirety of the 3-1 victory over the Bees, as well as last week’s Europa League win against Vorskla Poltava.

After heading the Gunners in front after four minutes, Welbeck rounded off a fine team move for the second before the interval.

A fine Alan Judge free-kick halved the arrears, but, despite Brentford outplaying their hosts for much of the second half, substitute Alexandre Lacazette wrapped up the win in stoppage time.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lacazette forming a budding relationship, Emery is likely to keep the pair in the side for Saturday’s visit of Watford – but the Spaniard insists Welbeck has thrown his hat into the ring.

“I am very happy individually with the player,” Emery said after the game.

“He gave us his quality and also his commitment every day. Danny Welbeck is working with this commitment and when he is playing also with a performance like today, and I think he’s helping the team and we want this.

“Also, it gives more chances for us to find (him) the first XI for the next match with performances like today. I am very happy with Danny Welbeck.”

Welbeck’s contract expires at the end of the current season and, although Emery is no longer directly involved in negotiations with players, he is keen to keep the 27-year-old.

“There are three things when we are speaking about an individual. There’s the club, the player and the team, and my focus is the team,” he added.

“I know they have last year of their contract with the team and they are working on speaking with the club, but for me, the focus is only on the performance in each match and every training.

“The performance and the commitment of the player is very high and also Danny Welbeck’s situation is one thing for the club and for them.”

Another topic that was discussed with Emery after the win was the reports surrounding Mesut Ozil and Joachim Low.

It was reported yesterday morning that Emery blocked Low from seeing the German international and the Arsenal training centre, but that was then later denied by other outlets.

Now, Emery has had his say on the situation, and he's admitted that it was all fake news.

"It's not true that I didn't let Mesut meet with Low," he said.

"I had no problem in our situation in the training ground. It's not true."