Former Crystal Palace and Aston Villa winger Yannick Bolasie wants Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles to get more playing time under Mikel Arteta.
The 23-year-old, who joined the club’s first team in the 2017/2018 season, has been left as an unused substitute in five of Arsenal’s eleven Premier League games this season.
He has played five games in England’s top league since the start of the season, but only played 187 minutes in total.
Bolasie, who remains under contract with Everton through July next year, took to Twitter to express disappointment with Maitland-Niles’ situation.
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He posted a simple two-word message: “Free AMN”.
The former loaner from Ipswich Town was again overlooked in the derby on Sunday in north London. Arteta decided instead to get Dani Ceballos and Eddie Nketiah off the bench during the game.
Maitland-Niles, who can play in full-back, central midfield or outfield, is a product of Arsenal’s youth academy and has played 112 times for the club’s senior team.
Two goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane in the first half decided the outcome of Sunday’s game and sentenced Arsenal to 15th place in the Premier League table, while Spurs skipped Chelsea to return to the summit.
The club’s problems in front of goal seem more obvious than ever as Arteta’s side have not scored in any of their last seven open-play league games.
Despite the result, the Spaniard praised his team’s efforts after the final whistle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“I’m very positive about the way we played if we come here at this moment and play with the personality, courage, passion, energy and faith that the boys have shown,” he said .
“In the end it is a football game and you have to win it and we lost again today.”
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Arsenal make their return to the Europa League on Thursday as they travel to Ireland for the final Group B game against Dundalk.
Three days later, the Gunners will greet the Burnley fighters at Emirates Stadium as they desperately try to end their disappointing run of recent times.
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