Former Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles has opened up about his honest feelings about the club.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles joined the Arsenal Hale End academy system at the age of six, and worked his way up through the youth ranks until he was handed his first-team debut by then-manager Arsene Wenger in late 2014.

The 26-year-old became a first-team regular at Arsenal under Unai Emery, establishing himself at right-back, despite considering himself to be a midfielder. 

He initially kept his place in the starting XI after the appointment of Mikel Arteta in late 2019. He started in the FA Cup final win at the end of that campaign. In this period of his career, Maitland-Niles was also able to earn five England caps, but he hasn’t featured at international level since 2020.

His Arsenal career petered out, as loan moves to West Brom, Roma, and Southampton preceded his permanent departure to join Lyon as a free agent in the summer of 2023. In total, he made 132 appearances for the North London club, across all competitions.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles shares honest thoughts about Arsenal

It has been suggested that Maitland-Niles could have maintained his place in the Arsenal setup had he embraced what Arteta wanted of him. However, the Spanish coach was ultimately comfortable allowing the player to leave the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer.

Maitland-Niles is now playing regularly and impressing for the French outfit. 

In conversation with The Athletic, the England man has now expressed his feeling about Arsenal.

He said: “It’s my boyhood club, I still support them and look out for them. I’m hoping they are going to win the league this year. I’d love to see them do it. I have no envy in my heart at all.”

Where Arsenal now stand in the Premier League title race

The Gunners are currently in the heat of a Premier League title race, and maintained their pace at the top of the table with a 3-0 win against Bournemouth on Saturday. Declan Rice impressed in the middle of the park as Arsenal kept the pressure on Manchester City with this victory.

Arteta’s side only have two games left to go, with a visit to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United to come next. Meanwhile, Manchester City, who are one point behind Arsenal, have three more fixtures to contend with.

If Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions win all their games then they will retain their crown. However, due to Arsenal’s superior goal difference, then just a single draw for Manchester City could hand the North London outfit their first league title since 2004. Maitland-Niles is certainly hoping that things will pan out that way.

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