Ex-Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles has opened up about his initial shock at training under Sam Allardyce after leaving Mikel Arteta's side to join West Brom on loan in 2021.

The 26-year-old, who is now enjoying regular football with Lyon in Ligue 1, was seeking consistent playing time and found himself at the relegation-threatened club for the final four months of the season. Despite Allardyce's efforts, West Brom finished 19th in the Premier League.

However, Maitland-Niles gained a new perspective on football under Allardyce's management. In an interview with The Athletic, he shared his first impressions: "That was a shock at first - for the first couple of days, I was like, 'Wow, I've never seen something like this before', he laughs. "But he's a good guy, he wants his team to do well. He obviously has a different method to go about it".

Maitland-Niles' stint at West Brom was the second of four loans he's had during his career before moving to France, where he signed a four-year deal with Lyon last summer, ending his 20-year association with Arsenal that began when he was just six years old, reports the Daily Star.

Despite his departure from the north Londoners, the Englishman has expressed his unwavering support for his boyhood club as he admitted he's rooting for the Gunners to outdo Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title this season."

"I'll cherish it forever," he shared. "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".

Reflecting on his upbringing at Arsenal, Maitland-Niles added: "It's a great thing to have grown up in such a great club, the way they taught us to play football and how to read the game over the years".

Despite facing challenges during loan spells that saw two of his temporary teams relegated, Maitland-Niles believes these experiences have been character-building and instrumental in his development.

"That's what builds character, it's difficult. No one wants to go through that but unfortunately, I did and a lot of players went through it with me.It just helped me put perspective into my life," he stated.

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