Pundit lambasts ‘stupid’ Arsenal transfer amid ‘massive’ Arteta claim
Arsenal were “stupid” to let Ainsley Maitland-Niles leave without a replacement, according to Kevin Phillips.
The former Sunderland striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the 24-year-old’s Roma departure has left the Gunners “very light” in midfield.
Albert Sambi Lokonga, 22, and Charlie Patino, 18, are the only recognised central midfielders currently available for selection at Arsenal following Granit Xhaka’s red card against Liverpool on Thursday (13 January).
Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are currently away with their respective national sides at the African Cup of Nations.
Phillips claimed Xhaka‘s dismissal will give Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta a “really massive test”.
“It looks a stupid decision to let Maitland-Niles leave now, you have to say,” he told Football Insider‘s Dylan Childs.
“It’s always a gamble when you let a player go, for whatever reason.
“He obviously wanted to leave Arsenal, he wanted to play. However, they’ve left themselves very light in that area with two midfielders at the African Cup of Nations.
“It’s an area that has been talked about for years at Arsenal. They’ve needed that defensive midfielder who can control games, and Thomas Partey is starting to come to the fore.
“But he’s away and to have Xhaka suspended as well, it’s going to be a really massive test for Arteta and the players.”
Xhaka is suspended for the Gunners’ next fixture after his first-half red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity on Thursday.
Arsenal youngsters Patino and Lokonga have made just nine combined Premier League starts for the club.
England U19 international Patino scored on his senior debut for the north London club in the League Cup last month.
In other news, a medical expert issues verdict on “sinister” Arsenal situation after Takehiro Tomiyasu news in the last 24 hours.