Ainsley Maitland-Niles is supposedly ready to quit from Arsenal this summer.
The 23 year-old has struggled to earn a regular role in North London after breaking into the first-team squad in the 2017-18 campaign.
AMN did enjoy a strong end to last season with Mikel Arteta regularly employing him at left-back including in the FA Cup final, but he eventually left the club to join West Bromwich Albion on loan in January after limited minutes.
This loan was about more than just playing time however, as he requested the opportunity to play in midfield instead, and that wish was granted by West Brom.
AMN has just one assist to his name so far from midfield, but was even allowed to play as the AM in his most recent start against Crystal Palace.
Sam Allardyce clearly has no issue playing him in his preferred roles, while Arteta has seemed reluctant, and it remains to be seen whether it is his playing role which has convinced him that his future should lie elsewhere.
The Telegraph claims that Wolves, Leicester City and Southampton all hold interest in his signature in what they are claiming as an ‘exclusive’.
With two years remaining on his contract, we will be under no obligation to part ways however, and will be able to request a fair fee for his signature.
Should AMN have been given more chances in midfield at Arsenal?
Patrick
Ta ta. Niles. See you around
there was a fan in the summer who said he was better then Kante lol !
some fans can be outrageous. the analyze players based on sympathy not stats
As long as Arteta is still in helm, most of the youngsters will leave. This is called “rebuilding” process, by keeping old horses and selling youngsters. God should have mercy on Arsenal
some old horses have also left. ozil , sokratis, kolasinac, mustafi. some of these young players have failed to prove their worth. saka and ESR have proved their worth. holding too
👍
@zackson88
And every one of those young players you mention have been played in their desired positions. Giving them time to acclimate to said position, as well as hone their skills there. Not shuffled around as stop a gap player…AMN should have been used in mid ahead of either Xhaka or Elneny, IMO
AMN is OK but isn’t anything more than a squad / utility player for a club that realistically is top-6 or even top-8 in the EPL. If he wants to play regularly, and especially in his preferred position, then a bottom-half / yo-yo club should be perfect. He will still retire young & rich, so winners all round.
He is at a club now WBA who are about he’s level,
He can be good some days then go missing for more matches, I think his attitude is not right, he thinks his world class, but he is a decent player at best…
Some of us oldies judge a player from what we see, and have no interest in stats which can be misleading .Dependence on stats weakens the brain and your own thought process.I suggest we trust our own judgement not stats.Classic example.A forward dribbles past three players, passes to a teammate, who side foots the ball into the path of Auba who scores.Who gets credited with the “assist”? Need I say more?
So very true Grandad. Truly knowing fans use stats with great caution and know they can be , but may not be, a useful guide. And no more than a useful guide, at very best. Nothing beats watching a player with eyes and brain not dulled by stats and a slavish and immature devotion to them!
Attacking Midfielder Niles ;D
I think he is right to pursue another club, who is in need of the qualities in the midfield.
Arteta tried at tested him but he is not the attacking midfielder type we need, ESR is. Like Joe Willock and other academy players they had a chance and contributed in the first team, did quit made the Arsena requirement and moved on. I think its all good, as long as we tie down the Sakas and ESRs of the academy and let the rest contribute to the frst team for a while and then move one. The club should getter smarter on this, and calculate better when to sell. AMN could have been sold for 15 m last summer, now he might as well run his contract down and leave for free. How do we get smart about using the academy – that is the issue.
Imagine selling Maitland-Niles and keeping Xhaka. No hope for Arsenal