Ben Foster has claimed that Ainsley-Maitland Niles had a ‘lose your head’ moment during Arsenal’s summer transfer window, as he told his own YouTube channel.
The English goalkeeper claimed that Maitland-Niles’ actions, where he asked to be ‘wanted’ and to leave Arsenal on Instagram, was pure ‘desperation’ from the player.
In the end, Maitland-Niles stayed put in North London and it’s going to be interesting to see where his future lies and how he is used during this campaign.
In January, he went out on loan to West Brom, where he played in the middle of the park, but he was unable to prevent the club’s relegation to the Championship.
And now the 24-year-old seemingly finds himself at a crossroads at his boyhood club.
Foster admitted he does ‘feel’ for the versatile player, who can also operate as a full-back, and that’s where he will probably have to play if he wants to get out on that pitch.
“Maitland-Niles put a post out on Instagram where he basically said ‘I just want to go to a team that wants me and I can play’,” said Foster.
“That to me just screams of absolute lose your head desperation. He is a player that wants to feel wanted and needed. He wants game time.
“And Arsenal, by the looks of it, they didn’t want to give him that. It’s frustrating when you are a player. It’s fully, fully frustrating when your team is not on the same page as you.
“I feel sorry for the guy, I really do. I hope he can sort something out with Arsenal, come to a resolution. He can go out on loan or actually get game time at Arsenal. I feel for him. It’s not a nice place to be.”
Maitland-Niles is yet to start a game for Arsenal this season and that’s not a pretty place to be given the start that they have had.
But then again, those that are playing ahead of him aren’t exactly pulling up trees, so it does increase his chances of earning game time after the international break.
The key question is where will he play?
Maitland-Niles has previously wanted to play in midfield, but it seems as though he will now be fighting for a place at fullback.
Either way, when he is handed a chance, and if he doesn’t impress, then there will be many supporters ready to remind him of his actions this summer.
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