---
title: "Arsenal: Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be in squad next season"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/ainsley-maitland-niles-southampton-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2023-02-28T07:15:24Z"
modified: "2023-02-28T07:15:24Z"
---

# Arsenal: Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be in squad next season

**[Journalist Paul Brown](https://twitter.com/pbsportswriter) claims that Southampton loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles could become part of [Arsenal](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fc-news/)‘s plans for next season.**

### The Lowdown: Southampton struggles

Maitland-Niles has endured a tough season on loan at Southampton, where they are struggling at the bottom of the [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) [table](https://www.premierleague.com/tables), in stark contrast to Arsenal flying high at the top.

However, the Englishman has been one of their most consistent performers, averaging more tackles ([2.4](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/18/Show/England-Southampton)) per game than any of his team-mates in the division.

He was recently described as ‘[heroic](https://twitter.com/J_Tanswell/status/1626993353828048897)‘ by Saints journalist Jacob Tanswell after putting in a vital block to help his team win 1-0 at Chelsea the weekend before last, and continues to work hard for the side to try and get them out of the relegation scrap.

### The Latest: In Arsenal squad next season?

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/arsenal-ainsley-maitland-niles-future-mikel-arteta-premier-league-emirates-stadium/), Brown claims that it is ‘not impossible’ that Maitland-Niles returns to the Arsenal squad for next season, despite being sent out on loan [multiple](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ainsley-maitland-niles/transfers/spieler/285845) times:

*“I think he’s still got a chance. He’s never really wanted to leave Arsenal but has been kind of forced to go out and find game time a couple of times now.*

*“It’s not impossible that he comes back and makes a fist of it. I do think next season Arsenal are going to need a bigger squad and to call on more players than they have this year.*

*“So, I’ve got a feeling he will come back, and they’ll take a look at him and Arteta will make a call based on what he sees in training. I think he’s going to get a chance to be reintegrated.”*

### The Verdict: Keep him!

Maitland-Niles has shown that he can perform consistently in the top flight this campaign, and so should have earned him a place in the squad for next term.

[Mikel Arteta](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/mikel-arteta/) has previously spoken about how highly he rates him, dubbing a him a ‘[huge talent](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/premierleague/16668647/arsenal-mikel-arteta-praise-ainsley-maitland-niles/)‘ while also complementing his versatility.

Indeed, he has shown at Southampton that he is [equally as comfortable](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ainsley-maitland-niles/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/285845/plus/0?saison=&verein=180&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) at playing at full-back as well as in midfield, and could suit the inverted full-back role perfectly at the Emirates Stadium, with Oleksandr Zinchenko showing his [ability](https://talksport.com/football/1311466/eddie-nketiah-oleksandr-zinchenko-man-utd-heat-map-statistics-arsenal/) to drift into midfield from left-back.

Nonetheless, the 25-year-old will feel like he has a point to prove in North London after being sent out on loan, and could prove himself to be a valuable squad player for next season.