Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles signs new long-term contract at the club
Versatile Gunners ace has been at the club since he was just nine-years-old and has committed his future to the team
ARSENAL star Ainsley Maitland-Niles has signed a new long-term contract at the club.
The versatile Gunners ace, 20, has been at the club since he was just nine-years-old and has now committed his future to the Emirates side.
Maitland-Niles made 28 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal last season, across the midfield and in defence.
The midfielder - who will wear No15 next season, rather than No30 - became the Gunners' second-youngest Champions League debutant in December 2014, aged just 17.
A Premier League bow four days later followed, before he spent the 2015-16 season on loan at Championship side Ipswich.
Maitland-Niles made 30 appearances, scoring twice and winning the Tractor Boys' Player of the Month award, in his sole season at Portman Road.
On top of that, the star has captained his country at Under-20s level - and was part the team's first-ever World Cup triumph in the summer of 2017.
Earlier this year, Maitland-Niles claimed he felt lucky to be given the opportunity at a club like Arsenal - with young talent also left to rot in England.
The Arsenal star said: “I do feel fortunate. I have been given the opportunity and I have to thank everyone who has backed me.
“But I’d like to see more academy players in the Premier League. There are not a lot of youth academy products and English boys in the Premier League."
