EPL: Maitland-Niles demands clarity from Arsenal over future

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has called on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to provide some clarity over his future and says it may be time to kiss the club goodbye.

The versatile midfielder spent the second half of the season on loan at West Brom, who were relegated, and has said he is yet to have any contact from the north Londoners over where his future lies.

Arteta is keen to clear out a number of players this season and the 23-year-old wants to know sooner rather than later whether he is one to be moved on or not.

“I want a decision,” Maitland-Niles told The Telegraph.

“I want some clarity and then hopefully I can get to work with whoever I need to get to work with. Whether that is finding a new club or whether that is carrying on with my training. I would like some kind of indication of what is happening. Where they [Arsenal] see me. If it works out it works out, if it doesn’t then kiss Arsenal goodbye.

“It’s been a long journey but a proud one at that. Maybe they still want to do something and things could change. If not, there’s always other teams.

“It would be easier to do it now than waiting for pre-season to kick in and everything is super busy and they can’t answer their phones because they are doing too much work. You know how the football world works.

“If I was to get a phone call from someone at Arsenal and they said they’d like a meeting tomorrow, then it would be easier that way.

“They can tell me whether they’ve got plans to play me in the future or if they want to sell me. I’ve heard they want to make some space [in the squad] and some money so I’m not sure.”

Southampton were interested in a deal for Maitland-Niles, who has two years left on his deal, before he made the move to The Hawthorns in January and are on the hunt for cover at full-back and in midfield again this summer, meaning the south coast could be an option.

The Three Lions will enjoy home advantage again for all three group games and face Scotland in their second match, just like in 1996, when Gascoigne scored his most memorable international goal.

Read Also: Euro 2020: Spain line up reserves in case of Covid outbreak

“I don’t mind that at all, he was a great player,” Foden said on being compared to the man affectionately known as “Gazza”.

“I remember watching highlights on the TV of Gazza — an unbelievable player. The full nation knows what he means for the country and what he did.

“I wouldn’t be too bad if I try to bring a bit of Gazza on the pitch.”