Arsenal legend Martin Keown thinks Mikel Arteta ‘doesn’t believe’ in Ainsley Maitland-Niles and a loan move away from the Emirates would be good for him.
Southampton are leading the race to sign Maitland-Niles on loan for the rest of the season, talkSPORT understands.
The 23-year-old has found regular football hard to come by this season under Arteta and is looking to spend the rest of the season out on loan.
Eight of his 20 appearances in the 2020/21 campaign have come from the bench.
His last appearance came on January 14 against Crystal Palace and it looks increasingly likely he will leave this month.
West Brom have also approached Arsenal over a possible loan deal but he is understood to favour a move to the south coast.
Gunners legend Keown believes that playing regular football is more important than just watching everybody else play.
Speaking to talkSPORT on Friday, Keown said: “He’s an England international and played very well for England, he looked good at the end of last season playing at left wing-back.
“But without the wing-back system it doesn’t seem like there’s a place for him.
“I thought he played very well in the Europa League in central midfield and they were going to launch him from there.
“But maybe Mikel Arteta doesn’t really believe in the player.
“When you’ve got Wolves and Leicester looking at you it shows the quality of the player.
“It’s disappointing for him, but maybe he’s better off to get some football and go on loan between now and the end of the season.
“It would be a baptism of fire for him going to West Brom, but sometimes you’ve got to just roll your sleeves up and playing is more important than watching everybody else play.”
On Thursday, Arteta said he was aware of Maitland-Niles’ concerns over the lack of game time ahead of this summer’s Euros.
“It is a concern when there is international football involved as well and the chance to reach that opportunity,” said Arteta.
“I understand that Ainsley wants more minutes and what he needs to do is fight, train and challenge his team-mates and show us that he can be one of our starters.”
Arsenal were believed to have turned down a £15million bid for the player from Wolves in the summer.