Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to finally seal his Arsenal exit with the versatile midfielder close to reaching a loan agreement with Roma.
Jose Mourinho has earmarked Maitland-Niles due to his ability to play in more than one position and the Italians will have the option to make his exit a permanent one at the end of the season.
Mikel Arteta has publicly backed his player on several occasions but looks set to accept he cannot offer what he needs most - regular playing time.
The 24-year-old had hoped to move on in the summer and made his desire public posting on social media: "All I want to do is go where I'm wanted and where I'm going to play."
Maitland-Niles spent the second half of last season on-loan with West Brom and was close to joining Everton before the end of the window.
The Toffees made a late move for the Gunners academy graduate, but were foiled after Mikel Arteta personally blocked the move.
Join the debate! Should Arsenal have tried to keep Maitland-Niles? Let us know in the comments.
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"We have many private conversations with players, what we believe the role they can have in the team is always discussed openly, but privately,” the Arsenal boss said after the window closed.
"That's the way we resolve matters, and the way that one was resolved.
"I am happy that he has stayed, it was our intention. He's another player in the squad."
But Maitland-Niles has remained a man on the peripheries under the Spaniard, playing just 263 Premier League minutes all season.
Arteta singled him out for praise following his latest start, vs Watford in November, but hasn’t handed him another chance since.
“First of all, I see a different player in terms of his urgency, his commitment, the clarity in his play, his purpose,” Arteta explained.
“Since we made the decision, it was clear what I was seeing that I wanted him to stay, because he was going to be useful.
“He has a huge talent because he’s versatile enough to adapt to almost any position on the pitch. Today we made use of him to do what he had to do in the game, which was really important.”
He added: “When I see him in training sessions, when I see how he prepares, when I see the questions he’s asking, his level of attention.
“Everything you talk through, his response is immediate. He’s a really clever boy, really clever, really intelligent.
“I think he needs to able to transmit that, and how much he cares, with his body language and his determination. He's come a long way.”
However, Arteta has reportedly sanctioned a deal which will enable Roma to make him a permanent addition at the end of the season.
Mourinho has already helped revitalise Tammy Abraham at the Stadio Olimpico and will now look to do the same with another England international.
And for all of Arteta’s public messages of support, he appears happy to finally accept that he won't play a central role in his Arsenal overhaul.
