Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to STAY at Arsenal this summer

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to STAY at Arsenal after holding clear-the-air talks with Mikel Arteta as Spaniard assures the utility man he IS part of his plans this season despite plea to leave amid Everton bid

  • Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to stay at Arsenal despite being linked with Everton 
  • The Gunners defender had expressed his desire to leave on social media  
  • He was reportedly banished from training but has since spoken to Mikel Arteta
  • The Spaniard has promised he will be part of his plans for the coming season 

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been assured he remains in Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s plans following clear-the-air talks.

Sportsmail reported on Monday how Arteta had ignored the England international’s pleas to join Everton, who had made a formal offer to take the versatile player on loan with an option to buy, after the Gunners had blocked the move.

Maitland-Niles, who is yet to start for Arsenal this season, took to Instagram to express his frustration at the club’s stance, a step that disappointed Arteta.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be staying with Arsenal this summer after talks with Mikel Arteta 

He has been assured he will be in the Spaniard’s first team plans for the coming season

The situation escalated this morning as it emerged Maitland-Niles was facing the prospect of having to train away from the first-team following Monday’s developments.

But the player and Arteta held constructive talks on this afternoon during which Maitland-Niles was told he will feature in the club’s plans this season.

There was still a chance on Monday afternoon that the 24-year-old could still leave the Emirates Stadium, but he will now remain in north London until at least January.

Maitland-Niles has told Arteta he wants to play right-back this season, the position he was playing when he broke into the England set-up in 2020.

Maitland-Niles took to Instagram to try and force his move from Arsenal to Everton

However, he has three players ahead of him in the pecking order in that position. New signing Nuno Tavares – who is primarily a left back – Callum Chambers and Cedric Soares have all played in front Maitland-Niles at right-back this season.    

He has played just 19 minutes this season, coming on during the crushing 5-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday, and had grown frustrated having made just five starts the previous campaign. He was subsequently loaned to West Bromwich Albion in January, making 12 appearances for the Baggies.

Maitland-Niles, who joined Arsenal at the age of six, made no secret of his desire to leave and secure regular first team action, writing in an Instagram story post: ‘‘All I wanna do is go where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna play.’ 

The saga took another turn this week after reports he had been banished from first team training after going public with his demands to quit.

Maitland-Niles is yet to start a match under Arteta this season, with three players playing ahead of him at right-back so far

The England international had reportedly been told by Arsenal to train away from the first team

The Mirror claimed he was told to conduct his sessions away from the rest of the squad following his outburst. Arteta was already disappointed with his player over his post, having previously killed off hopes of a move to Goodison Park in a face-to-face meeting.

The possibility of Maitland-Niles being successful at a direct rival may have influenced the club’s decision to keep him, however it is understood the 24-year-old left the meeting confused as to why the club had vetoed his move up north.

Having arrived believing the meeting would primarily be about resolving his future; it is understood Arteta was at pains to express his disappointment at the player’s social media post. 

During the last window Arsenal blocked a potential move to Liverpool and Leicester before allowing Maitland-Niles to join relegation threatened West Bromwich.

In the summer 2020 window, Arsenal refused to sanction a deal for Maitland-Niles to join Wolves.




Share this article


Source: Read Full Article