Sol Campbell agrees with Jamie Carragher on Ainsley Maitland-Niles after failed Arsenal transfer
Ainsley Maitland-Niles caused a stir on social media and looked set to leave Arsenal with Everton interested, but a move failed to materialise
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Arsenal legend Sol Campbell has admitted that unwanted Ainsley Maitland Niles to Everton would have been a good move for all parties after the Gunners blocked any potential deadline day move.
Maitland-Niles, 24, has suffered massively since Mikel Arteta took over the reins from Unai Emery and this was reflected in the England international's recent Instagram story post where he really made his feelings clear.
His story read: "All I wanna (sic) do is go where I'm wanted and where I'm gonna play @Arsenal."
It was a bold move from Maitland-Niles, who is clearly upset with his current situation at the club, failing to start a single game this season, with Portuguese full-back Cedric Soares and English defender Calum Chambers preferred to him at right-back so far this term.
This plea prompted late interest from the Toffees, with The Athletic reporting that Rafa Benitez was keen on bringing the 24-year-old to Goodison Park before the transfer window closed at 11pm on Tuesday night.
A move for the versatile player failed to materialise, despite his best efforts made to try and force a move out of the club before the deadline passed by.
'Critical' Arteta blames himself after Arsenal's 5-0 thrashing
Former Gunners centre-half Campbell had his say on the matter, showing sympathy towards Maitland-Niles. He believes a move to Everton would have been “fantastic”.
He told talkSPORT: "Young man, desperate to play, I get it. Arsenal need a squad, being selfish; not going to Everton – a fantastic move – will have been disheartening.
“He needs his career to move on and develop, get back into the England team. If I can’t get into this team, I need to join a new one.”
Similarly, fellow ex-defender Jamie Carragher shared Campbell's sympathy for the clearly unsettled wing-back.
"I do feel for him. He just wants to play football. It looks like there's no future for him at Arsenal and they've blocked a move at the last minute," Carragher told Sky Sports. "Arsenal were using Cedric and Chambers at right-back. If they want to use him, play him."
It has since been reported that clear-the-air talks had occurred between the academy graduate and manager Arteta, therefore it will certainly be interesting to see if the Spaniard starts using the 24-year-old more for the games after the international break in the Premier League against relegation candidates Norwich City and Burnley.
