Mikel Arteta wouldn’t be drawn on the future of Ainsley Maitland-Niles but says he expects Arsenal to complete loan deals for some of his squad in the coming month.
The England international is set to spend the second half of the season at AS Roma with the Italian side, currently managed by Jose Mourinho, likely to have an option to buy the versatile midfielder in July.
Having been retained in the summer, Maitland-Niles was in and around the first team during the early months of the season but has fallen out of favour in the last six weeks.
“Any news with any player or what is happening, you know that we always keep it private and he’s our player at the moment,” said Arteta when quizzed on rumours of a Serie A move for the 24-year-old.
In light of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exile and the contract situations of Eddie Nketiah and Alex Lacazette – both are free to sign pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs from tomorrow – Arsenal have been linked with a host of strikers. There’s also set to be room on the midfield roster if Maitland-Niles and Mo Elneny, another soon to be out of contract, leave.
Given how hard it is to get value for money in the January window and with Covid complicating matters, it’s hard to imagine a big name arrival in the coming weeks.
For now, it sounds like Arteta is focused on freeing some fringe players. Folarin Balogun is a dead cert for a loan move while the likes of Sead Kolasinac, Calum Chambers and several academy kids are also on the hunt for temporary homes.
“We are expecting some activity because of a few players, and we have a few loans that hopefully we will have to complete,” said Arteta.
“But it depends, as we all know it’s a very complicated market, and it’s a short window, so we’ll see what happens.”
I always liked AMN. Arteta sees the squad in training, and he knows what he wants, but our academy product seems to have delivered the goods when on the field. The last FA Cup could not have been won without him (or Auba). I hope he has a long successful career wherever he goes (unless it’s Spurs), even if he makes Mourinho look good.
He’s a bloody good utility player and they are like gold dust.
The problem is he doesn’t want to be one and he’s not good enough to nail down a specific role as a starter.
The problem is that he is not good enough to be a starter in a team challenging for a Champions League place. He is certainly good enough to start in other teams in the Premier League.
I think his problem is being a utility player and never defining his position. It rarely works out when you shift around the team is 3 positions.
He has bags of talent, but often loses concentration in the past.
How can you want to be a utility player if you play around two games in three months?
Because you’re likely to be at a bigger club with a greater chance of winning trophies. As above (unless it’s spurs)
I’d question his commitment if he didn’t want to be a utility player behind Fabregas (or even Arteta). He’s being denied a run for Xhaka, for pity’s sake.
It’s like the sun not wanting to be the sun. You’re a utility player, embrace it as your calling. Just look at Nicky Butt and James Milner!
On the basis that we have replacements lined up, I would be happy to see Kolasinac, Cedric, Elneny, Eddie & Auba all leave on permanent deals this window. Kolasinac & Cedric are surplus to requirements, Eddie won’t sign a new deal and who knows with Auba.
Lacazette still has a role to play until the end of the season and I think Leno will go in the summer.
On transfermarket.com they state that Chambers deal also expires this summer, can anyone confirm?
Cheers.
Chamber’s contract expires this summer.
Thanks mate 👍
The club have the right to trigger 1yr extension if they feel it’s worth it.
Well, we can’t let AMN go if we haven’t got a replacement surely? Zakaria or someone similarly strong and disruptive in CM would be ideal. Not sure about Bruno from Lyon, looks a bit weak….
I messaged Edu on Insta about Coutinho, so hopefully that’s not gonna happen and sorted 👍
Ah nice one mate cheers, glad we won’t have to worry about Coutinho coming anymore – you’ve done us all a favour there
I think hell go to spurs. Hoping our interest is just to bump up the price
* sp*rs
Hell sounds about right, lol
Thanks, I was going to tell Edu the same, but now that he knows, I don’t have to.
Did you mention Zakaria in your message, or anything about Xhaka being sold?
Nah, short & sweet just don’t fuck up your current good transfer record by signing Coutinho…..didn’t want to confuse him
Coutinho on loan I’d take it. Champions league winner and proven in pl. Wouldn’t sign permanently though tbf. We’d need decent backup given covid and injuries, coutinho would be good quality back up
That’s fair enough. Keep up the good work
Dusan Vlahovic
Jonathan David
Alexander Isak
Any of these STs, in this order, and I’ll be happy!
David looks really strong and direct but maybe a bit clumsy? I like Schick as well….6′ 3″ and really skilful.
Any of them would be great tbh 👊
I too like Schick, but he was signed only the year before for good money. Most likely will cost a bomb to sign him this summer.
Personally I like the look of DCL from Everton. Strong, quick, athletic, hold up play and great in the air. Great compliment to the attacking options we currently have. Can’t see us being able to get him though give the price Everton would expect
Yep! All the strikers above are in the same mould with slight variations. Good in the air is definitely a much needed asset along with hold up play and good enough technically to play for Arsenal…..
Yeah, DCL is the one I’m most excited by as well, and I do think that we’d be able to afford him due to the money we’d save on wages by having him rather than Auba and Laca. Wages are usually the biggest costs in transfers, not fees, and was why we were able to afford our business this summer.
Dunno about dcl. Would prefer better striker.
Why not just go all out and get Haaland 🤷🏻♂️
€75m fee, wages similar to Auba & best friends with Odegaard!!
One can only wish
I’d throw in a euro make up the £75 plus one to make it happen
Would love AMN to cement a role in the team as he has unquestionable quality but hes a bit like Lou Begbas mambo no5 a little bit of everything but not enough of all.. love his composure but to be a top class player in his preferred role in CM he needs a bit more about him I’m not talking putting the boot in to opposition but moving the ball a lot quicker offensive wise, that said I would be sad to see him go, with the right set up & right league i could see him being another Gnarby
Jose Mourinho! Don’t make me laugh.
Not a chance. I’m a really boring person and all my jokes are shit.
The only reason he is classed as a squad or utility player is because he doesn’t have much goal involvements or key passes.
However you do see the energy he brings to overloading both in defense and especially attack.
I like ainsley for that. I think he has one of the best understandings of game intelligence in the squad in terms of when to attack and when to defend.
That quality will be sorely lacking if he leaves and we don’t replace that skill.