Ainsley Maitland-Niles confirms Arsenal exit after a DECADE having not spoken to club in a year

AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES has confirmed that he will leave Arsenal at the end of the season.

The 25-year-old, who is currently on loan at Southampton, fell down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium last season.

Maitland-Niles is set to leave ArsenalGetty

And now he has confirmed that he will leave north London when his contract expires in June.

Matiland-Niles told The Athletic: “It’s been a great journey but it has come to an end now (at Arsenal). It’s time for a fresh start and to find a new home.

“I’m looking forward to that but, at the same time, my head’s not quite there yet and it’s all about what’s happening now with Southampton.

“I’m just fully focused on trying to help us stay up and stay positive on a day-to-day basis and win games.

“When the time gets closer towards the end of the season, I’ll have something else to think about. But right now, I’m just focused on football and the task at hand.

“Southampton is a great club to be at and progress and get some minutes under my belt. Of course, if they were to make an offer, I’ll be more than happy to stay.”

Maitland-Niles joined Arsenal‘s Hale End academy at the age of six in 2003 and graduated to the under-21’s 10 years later.

He made his professional debut in a Champions League match against Galatasaray in 2014 before joining Ipswich Town on loan the following year.

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Following his short spell in Suffolk, he broke into the Arsenal first team and eventually went on to help the Gunners claim the 2020 FA Cup.

He has fallen out of favour in recent years, leading to three successive loan spells at West Brom, Roma and Southampton respectively.

Maitland-Niles joined the Saints on a season-long loan last September and he has since made 23 appearances across all competitions.

His Arsenal departure was agreed months ago and he has not spoken to anyone at the club since pre-season.

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