‘We’re told’: Sky reporter says it’s looking increasingly likely that Arsenal player now won’t be leaving

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Dharmesh Sheth has told Sky Sports News that Arsenal defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles is looking increasingly likely to stick around at the Emirates Stadium.

Staying around

Maitland-Niles was the subject of interest from Everton yesterday and hinted that he would be open to leaving the Gunners on Instagram, due to a lack of game time.

However, any deal looks unlikely to happen – Sheth has suggested.

The Sky reporter claimed last night that Arsenal were standing firm over keeping the 24-year-old, and he could now stick around.

“Twists and turns in the past few hours with this one. We learnt this morning that Everton had made a loan enquiry for Maitland-Niles, it came with an option to buy,” Sheth said.

“We’re told that offer was rejected by Arsenal and it’s looking increasingly likely that Maitland-Niles will remain at Arsenal.

“As it stands it looks like Maitland-Niles, but it was a late one when he went to West Brom and who knows? There could yet be a twist on deadline day.”

In doubt

Maitland-Niles’ future has been up in the air for much of the summer so far.

It is, therefore, somewhat of a surprise that Arsenal seem to be planning to keep him, despite the late interest.

Mikel Arteta has shown very little willingness to start the Hale End academy graduate over the early part of the season.

However, if he does stick around Arteta will surely have to manage Maitland-Niles carefully.

His social media post suggested that he wasn’t entirely happy at his lack of minutes.

And Arteta will almost certainly have to start giving him more opportunities, if he is to keep the player happy in North London.