Video: Arteta lavishes praise on Arsenal outcast in training, ahead of crunch Leicester clash

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Much has been made of Arsenal and their training methods under Mikel Arteta recently, after the All Or Nothing series put things under the microscope.

The Spanish coach has won praise and criticism for some of the methods he’s used with his Arsenal team. But after a positive start to the season and yet another big summer transfer window, few will question the commitment Arteta has to the Arsenal cause.

Of course, the Gunners face a big game this weekend as they take on Leicester City at The Emirates. Fans will be expecting a win against a Foxes side who have been weakened this summer. And Arteta, it seems, has been trying to keep the energy in training ahead of that game.

Interestingly, on today’s Inside Training released by Arsenal, Arteta can be heard piling the praise on a certain Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The versatile Gunner is expected to leave the club this summer. However, in the video – around the 2 minute mark – Maitland-Niles is praised for some impressive harrying and defensive work which sees him dispossess Kieran Tierney.

Certainly, it seems Maitland-Niles is putting the work in on the training pitches anyway. And if he does leave, it doesn’t appear to be for not wanting to impress at Arsenal.

TBR’s View: Maitland-Niles Needs To Leave Arsenal Still

He might have impressed on this snippet in training here but Maitland-Niles has gone from one of the most promising young players in the league to being someone who barely plays.

For his own sake, really, he needs a move to a club where he is going to get regular minutes. Maitland-Niles is probably struggling due to his own versatility as well. He needs a position, and needs to get a run of games in that position.

That being said, all he can do for Arsenal is impress in training and he certainly looks to have done that here.