Ainsley Maitland-Niles ‘believes he must leave Arsenal in order to play regular first-team football’ after struggling to establish himself under Mikel Arteta… with interest in the 22-year-old from England and Germany
- Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been used sparingly by Mikel Arteta recently
- The 22-year-old has played just one full match since the coronavirus lockdown
- Maitland-Niles feels the time is now right for a move away from the Emirates
- He has a contract with Arsenal until 2023 but wants more minutes on the pitch
Ainsley Maitland-Niles reportedly believes he is in need of a move away from Arsenal after struggling for minutes under Mikel Arteta.
Maitland-Niles, who actually has been used more often at right back as opposed to his natural position in midfield since progressing into the first-team, has played just one full match since mid-January and been used sparingly from the bench.
As such, the 22-year-old is seeking a transfer away from the Emirates and believes now is the right time despite having a contract with Arsenal until 2023, according to The Athletic.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles wants to pursue a move away from Arsenal for first-team football
The 22-year-old has been used sparingly by manager Mikel Arteta since mid-January
The report details that talks between Maitlaind-Niles’ representatives and the club about his future were set to rear its head at the end of the season.
However, the player now wants a resolution sooner, particularly with European football a tall order – at least via their position in the Premier League.
Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Tottenham means Mikel Arteta’s side are ninth in the table, four points off Sheffield United in seventh with three games to play.
Maitland-Niles was an unused substitutes on Sunday when Arsenal lost 2-1 to rivals Tottenham
Meanwhile Maitland-Niles, who was on the substitutes bench at the weekend, feels there is a lack of trust from the manager and is keeping an eye on interest emerging from both England and Germany.
Despite making 96 first-team appearances for Arsenal, he has rarely been used in the centre of midfield – his favoured position – under Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Arteta.
Arteta has used Maitland-Niles mostly from the substitutes bench since the league restarted
He made his first-team debut for the club back in 2014 at the age of 17 in a Champions League game against Galatasaray.
He spent the 2015-16 season on loan at Ipswich Town, and has made at least 28 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners in each of the last three seasons.
Yet this year, Maitland-Niles’ only start since the coronavirus lockdown was away to Sheffield United in the FA Cup quarter-finals on June 28.
