According to a recent report by Sky Sports, Arsenal defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles is close to joining Roma on loan for the rest of the season. Maitland-Niles hasn’t featured in any of Arsenal’s last seven games and remains out of choice for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. Roma are exploring the market to bolster their defensive options, and with a minimal budget available, the versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks an ideal choice at the moment. The move will see the Englishman link up with compatriots Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham at the Italian club.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles Not In Arteta’s Plan
Maitland-Niles has been at Arsenal since 2014 but hasn’t been able to break into the starting XI consistently. The Arsenal graduate has made 132 appearances for the Gunners and has won 3 FA Cups in the meantime.
He has made eight league appearances this season, with only 2 of them coming as starts against Norwich and Watford. The Englishman is finding it difficult to get regular minutes at Arsenal this season after making 26 league appearances last season.
Maitland-Niles wanted to leave the Gunners at the beginning of the season but stayed on to compete for his place. However, he hasn’t been able to really hit his stride yet. It is believed that Jose Mourinho can help the young English player to rediscover his best form at Roma. His contract will also come to an end in 2023, and a move to Roma looks more likely now.
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Should Arsenal Let Ainsley Maitland-Niles Go?
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is a versatile player who can play as a midfielder as well as a full-back. Arsenal are currently stacked up in the full-back positions, with the likes of Tomiyasu, Tierney, Taveres and Cedric Soares all competing for a place in the starting lineup. The arrival of Albert Sambi Lokonga has also put an end to Maitland-Niles’s chance of getting regular minutes as Arteta has preferred the Belgian over him.
With the Englishman’s contract coming to an end in 2023, a loan move for the rest of the season and then a permanent move in the summer to cash in on him might be the right choice for the Gunners.
Roma are also in need of a full-back, and with a minimal budget at their disposal, a move for the Arsenal player looks ideal in this scenario. Now it remains to be seen if Arsenal does let Ainsley Maitland-Niles complete his transfer in January, unlike last summer when he was asked to stay.
