Ainsley Maitland-Niles has reportedly been banished from Arsenal first team after publicly calling out the club in anger over a blocked move to Everton.
Sportsmail revealed that Everton tabled a bid for the England international, but he was told by the Gunners in a hastily-arranged meeting that he was not allowed to depart the Emirates this summer.
Earlier on Monday, Maitland-Niles had taken to Instagram to complain about the failed move, posting: ‘All I wanna do is go where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna play @arsenal.’
According to the Mirror, Maitland-Niles has now been told by Arsenal he will be training away from the first team following his outburst, as the Tuesday evening’s transfer deadline of 11pm draws ever nearer. Maitland-Niles is yet to start a match under Arteta this season with Callum Chambers and Cedric Soares playing ahead of him at right-back so far, with new left-sided defender Nuno Tavares used briefly at right-back as well this season.
The 24-year-old, who made his England debut in a full-back role in September 2020, did come off the bench in the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday but played in a central midfield role.
Maitland-Niles was also denied a starting spot in Arsenal’s 6-0 Carabao Cup win over West Brom by Mikel Arteta, despite the Spaniard making seven changes to his squad, with the player coming on for the final 30 minutes of the match.
The meeting was called after Maitland-Niles publicly expressed his disappointment at not being allowed to leave for Everton on social media. It is understood that the 24-year-old left the meeting confused as to why the club had blocked his move.