‘Irritated’ Arsenal midfielder could seek transfer exit

It’s beginning to feel a lot by Christmas. Which of course means that the transfer rumours are starting to pile up as Arsenal prepare for the January transfer window.

With games every three days, any spare time in between is filled up with speculation galore with potential signings as well as supposed outgoings. Southampton on Saturday is the focus, yet Arsenal might have other matters to attend to.

One of those is the future of Ainsley Maitland-Niles. A transfer saga that played out in the public as the midfielder took to Instagram to declare his desire to leave, some face-to-face talks with Mikel Arteta on the eve of the summer deadline day simmered tensions.

Told he was part of his plans and would get minutes this term, it appeared as if that would be the case with regular substitute appearances and a Premier League start on matchweek four against Norwich. However, with 15 matches played, he’s amassed just two starts and six outings off the bench.

‘Irritated’ Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland could seek transfer exit in search of regular minutes with Everton and Newcastle keen on his signature

In the recent horror show at Everton he didn’t even make the squad having been man of the match in his last start for the club.

The reliable Sami Mokbel has revealed that the lack of playing time for the 24-year-old has left him ‘irritated’, and the feeling is that the club kept him in the summer under false pretenses. They’re quite strong claims of a man clearly unhappy.

Which is to be expected. Any player will want to be playing, and seeing Mohamed Elneny start at Old Trafford and Thomas Partey be allowed a free ride in the team despite some dreadful performances of late will only exacerbate that.

Having been told he’d get his chance to play, when your performances look strong as others’ don’t and you still can’t get minutes then the reaction is understandable.

With 18 months left on his deal, Arsenal are now said to be under pressure with the January window opening in three weeks’ time and Maitland-Niles keen to be in the (a) team more regularly. That month will see Elneny and Partey depart for AFCON which will make Arsenal reluctant to sell, but as seen before with Maitland-Niles, he’s not afraid to make his feelings known.

Everton have a long-term interest which follows on from the summer, and Newcastle are also said to be monitoring the situation as they prepare for their first transfer window under new ownership.