Gary Lineker has taken to Twitter to react after hearing that Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to stay at Arsenal for the 2021/22 campaign.
What’s the story?
Well, after a day of speculation, the Mirror have ended talk surrounding the 24-year-old’s future.
The Athletic revealed that Everton were in talks with Arsenal over a loan move for the 5-cap England international earlier today.
Rafa Benitez’s side even submitted an offer to take the Hale End Academy graduate on loan.
However, after clear-the-air talks with Mikel Arteta, Maitland-Niles will be staying with the Gunners and is part of the Spaniard’s plans.
You can see how Lineker reacted to this news in full below.
The BBC Match of the Day host clearly feels it’s the right decision.
However, we can’t say we agree.
What is Arsenal’s long-term plan for Ainsley Maitland-Niles?
It just doesn’t feel as if Arsenal have a plan for Maitland-Niles, neither a short-term, nor a long-term one.
According to the Guardian, Wolves were closing in on a £20m deal for the London-born utility man last summer.
However, the Gunners saw the move break down, and then went on to severely damage his value last season.
Arteta handed Maitland-Niles just five Premier League starts, before loaning him to West Brom in January, where he was relegated.
Now, it’s got to the point where he’s crying out for help on social media, just so he can play regular first-team football.
Yes, clear-the-air talks may have been had, although that doesn’t mean things are guaranteed to change.
There’s been plenty of player mismanagement in recent seasons at the Emirates Stadium, and this is just another episode in the series.
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