Maitland-Niles hits out at Arsenal treatment

Former Arsenal defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles is disappointed at how his career unfolded at the club.

The versatile defender and midfielder, now with Lyon, was impressive in 2020, earning an England callup.

However, he felt that he was not given the chances he merited back in the 2020/2021 season.

In a candid interview with The Athletic, Maitland-Niles said: "After my last cap for England [a 4-0 win over Iceland in November 2020], I came back to Arsenal and didn't make the starting XI, then it just went downhill.

It's hard to get picked for England when you don't have consistent football, unless you're one of the regulars like Harry Maguire.

"It's frustrating. Everyone wants to play football and everyone wants to play for their country. It was the lack of football that was stopping me.

I went on a few loans after that to try to pick up momentum but it didn't go to plan. It was always my interest to be playing football and not sit on the bench waiting for my turn."