Arsenal have committed Ainsley Maitland-Niles to a new long-term deal after impressing during the course of the 2017/18 campaign. The Englishman had to wait until the festive period last term in order to make his Premier League debut but he was thereafter consistent with his performances when called up on the field. Overall, the former Under-20 winner made 28 appearances across all competitions and he has now been rewarded with a contract extension.
“Ainsley Maitland-Niles has signed a long-term contract extension with the club. Joining our academy at the age of nine, he enjoyed another successful season, featuring regularly for the first team in 2017/18. He made 28 appearances during the campaign at wing-back or full-back and in midfield,” a statement read on Arsenal’s official website.
Arsenal have committed Ainsley Maitland-Niles to a new long-term deal after impressing during the course of the 2017/18 campaign. The Englishman had to wait until the festive period last term in order to make his Premier League debut but he was thereafter consistent with his performances when called up on the field. Overall, the former Under-20 winner made 28 appearances across all competitions and he has now been rewarded with a contract extension.
“Ainsley Maitland-Niles has signed a long-term contract extension with the club. Joining our academy at the age of nine, he enjoyed another successful season, featuring regularly for the first team in 2017/18. He made 28 appearances during the campaign at wing-back or full-back and in midfield,” a statement read on Arsenal’s official website.
Maitland-Niles is primarily a central midfielder by trade but during the recent campaign, he was often used by ex-boss Arsene Wenger in both fullback positions. Nevertheless, the youngster did not show any drop in his performance levels and he will now be aiming to establish himself in the centre of the park.
According to latest reports, the Gunners have yet to finalise the future of Jack Wilshere at the club and his potential departure on a free transfer could increase the gametime for Maitland-Niles. Maitland-Niles barely featured for the Gunners at the heart of the midfield last term but his most-defining game of the season unquestionably came at Old Trafford where he was very competitive against the likes of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic.
Arsenal have yet to pursue a new midfielder to bolster their ranks for the summer but Emery is expected to move for one sooner rather than the later owing to the inconsistency shown by the likes of Granit Xhaka last season. Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira and Nice’s Jean-Michael Seri have been earmarked as probable candidates to bolster the Gunners midfield this summer.