Brighton interested in signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles
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Brighton are interested in signing Ainsley Maitland Niles in the upcoming transfer window, according to Simon Collings of the Evening Standard.

Ainsley Maitland Niles is reportedly open to leaving Arsenal in the summer due to a lack of game time. He started the first five Premier League games of the Arteta era but has not made the starting XI in the subsequent 13 Premier League matches.
The 22 year old sees himself as a central midfielder but has not gotten too many opportunities to play in that position at Arsenal. He has played primarily as a right back or right wing back. More recently, he has even played as a left wing back for the Gunners.

He started the FA Cup Semi Final against Manchester City as a left wing back and put in an outstanding performance. Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has made it clear that he trusts the player and wants him to stay at the Emirates. He said:
“He’s a player who can play in many different positions, we have discussed the things in my opinion that he can improve or adapt to his game because he has incredible quality.”
“He has every quality that you need to be a football player to play the highest level and he just needs to do it in a little bit more of a consistent way, but he is someone who can adapt to any position as well.”
“He has everything, he has great qualities, I believe in him. I had to give him opportunities and today he took it with both arms.

The young Englishman is a product of the Arsenal academy and made his debut for the Gunners in 2014 at the age of 17 against Galatasaray in the Champions League. Since then, he has made 98 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, during which time he has scored three goals and provided five assists.
As a Hale End graduate, he qualifies as a home grown member of the Arsenal squad. In addition to this, his versatility makes him a very valuable asset. The question to be asked is whether he figures in Mikel Arteta’s long term plan and if the player is invested in playing his part in that process and fighting for a place in the Arsenal first team.