Is Maitland-Niles to be the first to leave Arsenal in the summer?

Mikel Arteta has made it clear that Arsenal’s transfer funds and wage bill are going to be seriously affected by us finishing out of the European places and being unceremoniously dumped out of the Europa League, not to mention the fact that our latest financial figures showed a loss of 27million GBP. As Arteta said in Goal: “The damage caused by the club not being in the Champions League for the third season is really big,”

“Financially the impact is enormous because the structure of this club is built to be in the Champions League and you can sustain that for one year or two, but then after you have to start making decisions.

“So we will have to make decisions one way or the other depending on the scenario we find ourselves in, whether we are in the Champions League, Europa League or nowhere near that.

“And we’ll have a very clear plan of what we want to do and depending where we are we have to act like this.”

So, it makes sense that we will have to dispose of a lot of our high earners and peripheral players to raise funds for urgent purchases, although I imagine most of our outgoing players will be replaced by promoting our youngsters. Luckily we do have a few coming through that are looking good!

But it appears that one of the first to leave will be Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who has struggled to ever get a game in his favoured midfield, and despite covering well for Bellerin at right back he has been reprimanded by Arteta for not trying hard enough in training.

But the fact is that Niles has made it be known that he doesn’t want to play as a wing-back any more, and it would seem that there is interest in buying him from Italy already, with Sportsmole revealing that AC Milan are looking at taking him on.

I am sure there will be other interested parties, as he is not really a bad footballer, but it’s just not working for him at Arsenal. It’s good to have a versatil player around, but if he’s grown frustrated and wants to leave, should we stand in his way?

11 Comments

  1. The fact that there would most certainly be a lot of interest in AMN is surely a positive indication of his ability.I sincerely hope he proves his doubters wrong and fulfils his potential with Arsenal.

    1. I agree completely with you, Grandad – the only point I would add, is that the player himself has not indicated he wants away and neither has MA.
      Rather the opposite in my view, as MA has asked AMN to show more urgency to win back his confidence and a place in the squad.

      Just a further point regarding money for the club, a successful fa cup final win, will bring us a windfall of over £30,000,000, not to be sniffed at, along with the money from the sixth and semi-final wins – of course we are not in the situation we took for granted for over twenty years, but it is not all doom and gloom.

  2. The first of many
    AMN, Mhiki, Lacca, Sokratis, martinez, Auba if no Europe, Elneny, Kolasinac,

  3. If AMN doesnt want to play at right back any more then I guess I can respect that, its not his natural posiiton.

    At the same point in time does he think limiting his usefulness to the team is the best way to get game time?

    Does he think he is good enough to replace Xhaka, Torreira, Ceballos, Guendouzi or Ozil on the team sheet?
    I suspect that is what Arteta means when he talks about needing to work harder. AMN needs to show that he is good enough to do that.

    At the end of the day, whilst I think it would be a shame for him to leave at such a young age, if its not the right fit for him, the club etc then he should be sold (with a buyback clause) for a reasonable price. Lets not forget ESR is playing well at Huddersfield and would likely be looking to step up to the first team properly next season. Its not going to get any easier for AMN if he stays.

  4. Now under his 4th first team manager, and beyond the “youngster” (in football terms) bracket at 22.

    Also, M A turning to Papa to replace the non- tackling Bellerin at right back.

    Midfield-personally I think not.

    We must each come to our own conclusions.

  5. Interesting to talk about, but it doesn’t mean much until the player gives his opinion on the matter. I don’t much blame him if he doesn’t want to play at RB, let him compete for the midfield spot if he outplays others in training.

    Hard for me to imagine he would be worse than Willock in the role; I get he’s still young, but surely AMN was available for some of that time in midfield.

  6. Will Forever Rate AMN over Willock now or whenever..
    Really wish he’d think like Milner(Liv) Jack of all positions..
    Getting play time matters, rather than being benched waiting for your Fev wing to pop out then you get a shot! *Bulshit* Mehn..
    AMN Excels in both wing backs importantly RB and he claimed to be a Midfielder, then why don’t you stick with the Inverted RB method and and get more playing time, you know for the time going.
    Being All Round Player is very Good! AMN is Destined to be a very Good one But his advisors ain’t advicing Him quite well..

    1. Bellerin is a Shit waiting to pop! nowadays and that frightens me.
      AMN should have been his Backup In most matches enjoying the Pitch. Rather he AMN act to be stubborn enjoying the Bench.

      OT: Do you Guys wonder why the likes of Xhaka doesn’t get injured? Not that am wishing him to but c’mon, he needs to be Benched Asap! But he won’t get Benched simply because he’s strong with likes of Fernadinho(man c) But Xhaka gat no Football brains unfortunately. All our coaches are clouded by his physicality.

  7. Itll be sad news because the guy shows commitment. Ozil and doesn’t show commitment, but are highly rated at Arsenal

  8. I hope not! Hes been a better RB than Bellerin this season. The RB position needs an overhaul in general. I’m sure Arsenal can find one for an affordable price too if our scouting does their job.

  9. They are allegations that Arteta want to sell Maitland-niles, Guendouzi, and Torreira in order to buy Kokcu from Feyenoord. Ozil and Xhaka are not mentioned. Is Arteta building or destroying Arsenal

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