Are Arsenal making a mistake letting Ainsley Maitland-Niles go?

Are Arsenal making a mistake letting Ainsley Maitland-Niles go?

By Jonny Bray
Mikel Arteta's decision to slim down his squad during the January transfer window appears to be backfiring.
The Gunners looked tired and unable to change things up in the 3-0 loss against Crystal Palace, but the squad is about to get even thinner if rumours are to be believed.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles divides opinion at The Emirates, and it appears the England international could now be on his way out of the club.
Maitland-Niles has been linked with several Premier League sides despite a disappointing loan spell at AS Roma.
It is unlikely he'll join the Italian giants permanently, but clubs up and down England seem keen to sign the midfielder turned right-wing-back.

He should stay

Maitland-Niles may not be guaranteed a starting spot in Arteta's side, but he could provide an essential service as a squad player.
His ability to play in midfield and on the right side of a back five means that he could be the type of squad player that the Gunners are crying out for.
Arsenal are in the middle of a minor injury crisis, having lost Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Thomas Partey.
As a result, the Gunners are light at right-back and centre midfield.
Cédric Soares started on Monday, but both Arsenal full-backs were ripped apart by Wilfried Zaha and Jordan Ayew.
If Arteta wants a tightly-knit squad, that is fine, but he will need players who can fill several positions.
Furthermore, the Jamaican-born star has proven he is a Premier League quality player on several occasions.
He has made 86 appearances in the league, and despite not registering many goals and assists, he has shown he can work hard and be a cog in a system.
Finally, as an academy graduate, Maitland-Niles is liked by the majority of Arsenal fans.
He also knows what it means to play for the club, and it is always good to have people with the club's best interests at heart in and around the squad.

He should go

To be frank, his loan spell in Italy has gone appallingly.
There have been reports in the press that former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur manager José Mourinho is already fed up with Maitland-Niles.
Many will argue that Mourinho is biased, and maybe he is, but it is incredibly worrying to hear that Maitland-Niles is struggling to get into a Serie A side that is currently five points off Champions League qualification.
Then there is what is best for the player.
Unless as a squad player, Maitland-Niles has no future at Arsenal.
If he wants what is best for him, he should get out now and sign for a stable club who want to build a squad around him.
Unfortunately, his versatility could be his curse, as fans still don't know his best position.

Conclusion

Maitland-Niles should leave Arsenal and sign for another Premier League team while he still can.
His stock appears to be falling with every passing day in the Italian capital, and the sooner he has his future settled, the sooner he can focus on one position and get some first-team football.
It is a shame because he has the talent needed to have an excellent career in English football, but in order to reach his potential, he will need to leave The Gunners.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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