Ainsley Maitland has urged Arsenal to give him “clarity” over his future admitting it may be time to “kiss goodbye” to his beloved club if they don’t see him as part of their plans next season.
Maitland Niles joined Arsenal’s youth Academy in 2003 at the age of six before he progressed through the ranks. After rising through the youth teams, Maitland made his debut for the Gunners’ first team at the age of 17 in December 2014.
He has gone onto make 121 appearances for the side until he was shipped out on loan to West Brom for the second half of last season after he was surplus to requirements under Mikel Arteta.
He is set to return to Arsenal this summer and has admitted he is none the wiser about his situation in north London having not received any contact from Arteta or technical director Edu regarding their plans for him.
The 23-year-old, who was deployed mostly at right-back under Arteta but prefers to play more as a box-to-box midfielder, has since claimed that his time at the club may be coming to an end.
“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”. Maitland-Niles said.
“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”.
”I want a decision. 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 if it doesn’t then kiss Arsenal goodbye. It’s been a long journey but a proud one at that”.