The versatile 25-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles has declared that his time at Arsenal has “came to an end,” and he is getting ready to leave this summer.
The Gunners’ renowned academy produced the England international, who spent the 2022–23 season on loan at Southampton after previously serving comparable terms at West Brom and Roma.
He has 132 games for parent club Arsenal and five senior caps for his nation, but as he approaches free agency, he feels the time has come to fully dedicate himself to a challenge outside of north London.
Maitland-Niles has told The Athletic: “It’s been a great journey but it has come to an end now [at Arsenal]. It’s time for a fresh start and to find a new home.
I’m looking forward to that but, at the same time, my head’s not quite there yet and it’s all about what’s happening now with Southampton.
I’m just fully focused on trying to help us stay up and stay positive on a day-to-day basis and win games. When the time gets closer towards the end of the season, I’ll have something else to think about.
But right now, I’m just focused on football and the task at hand. Southampton is a great club to be at and progress and get some minutes under my belt.
Of course, if they were to make an offer, I’ll be more than happy to stay.”
Maitland-Niles will see his contract with Arsenal expire at the end of the season, freeing him to mull over several options when it comes to a next port of call.
Southampton will hope that there is a permanent deal to be done by them, but the Saints are currently stuck at the foot of the Premier League table and have just six games left this season in which to drag themselves out of the relegation zone.