After making his first Premier League start in two months during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Watford before the international break, Everton target Ainsley Maitland-Niles sounded for all the world like a man ready to leave speculation in the past and look to the future instead.
“That’s all in the past now,” Maitland-Niles told the Daily Mail, distancing himself from that infamous Instagram post.
“I am just thinking about the future and what’s ahead of me. It was great to be out there today, getting my minutes and, hopefully, there’s more to come.”
At the age of 24, Maitland-Niles is taking his career in his own hands.
He wants to play week in, week out – and not just anywhere either. Often a victim of his own versatility, the England international has made no secret of his desire to secure a place in the beating heart of Mikel Arteta’s midfield having spent much of his Arsenal career being shoehorned into a variety of alternatives.
“First of all, I see a different player in terms of his urgency, his commitment, the clarity in his play, his purpose,” Arteta told The Metro after the Watford win.
“He has huge talent because he’s versatile enough to adapt to almost any position on the pitch. Today, we made use of him to do what he had to do in the game, which was really important.”
Can Everton tempt Maitland-Niles or is there life at Arsenal?
So, all is well at the Emirates then? Well, it’s far too soon to draw conclusions.
Last week Maitland-Niles admitted he hoped the Watford outing would be the beginning of a sustained run in the Arsenal team. It’s worth noting, however, he only started against the Hornets because Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka were injured.
And now Le10 Sport reports Arsenal have made an approach for Renato Sanches, holding talks with Ligue 1 champions Lille and the Portugal international’s representatives.
The £25 million-rated Sanches, revitalised in France after punishing spells at Bayern Munich and Swansea City, will be allowed to leave as Lille look to ease their financial woes.
Worryingly for Maitland-Niles, Sanches is a midfielder cut from similar cloth. He’s someone capable of driving forward with purpose, turning defence into attack with a burst of acceleration.
The 2016 European Champion, it can be argued, is an upgrade on Arsenal’s long-serving number 15.
According to The Sun, Everton will come calling again for Maitland-Niles in January. And, although we wouldn’t advise turning to Instagram again, Maitland-Niles is unlikely to accept a back-up role in Arteta’s plans for much longer.
Sanches’ potential arrival feels like the proverbial final straw.
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