Former Arsenal player mulls leaving club – “Sometimes it's time to quit”

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has reflected on his decision to leave Arsenal after spending 16 years at the club.

Maitland-Niles is a product of Arsenal's youth system and went on to make 132 appearances for the club in all competitions between 2014 and 2023, winning the FA Cup and Community Shield.

However, Maitland-Niles never quite established himself as a regular starter at the Emirates Stadium and following loan spells with West Brom, Roma and Southampton, he joined Lyon when his Arsenal contract expired last summer.

The 26-year-old played 29 times in all competitions last season to help Lyon climb from relegation to sixth in Ligue 1 while reaching the final of the Coupe de France – losing 2-1 to PSG.

Maitland-Niles was back in London on Sunday as Lyon faced Arsenal in the Emirates Cup, with the Gunners winning 2-0 thanks to goals from defenders William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.

Speaking ahead of that game, Maitland-Niles recalled that leaving Arsenal when he did was the right decision for his career.

?? Friendship with Laca
? The king of punishment
?? French lessons

We spoke to Hale End graduate Ainsley Maitland-Niles ahead of his return to the Emirates Stadium?

– Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 11, 2024

“I'm very mature mentally and I understand how football works,” Maitland-Niles told Arsenal's website.

“Sometimes it's time to let go of the club you've been with for so many years. So it was a trying process, both for my family and for me.

“Obviously my contract is up anyway, so I had to find something solid and solid and I felt that Lyon was the best fit for me.”