There appeared to be a very real chance that Arsenal were going to bid farewell at the start of the summer to a pair of highly-rated and hungry young Brits who were just starting to establish themselves at the Emirates Stadium.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Kieran Tierney will not be joining Wolves or Leicester City this summer, with Mikel Arteta making it clear that the defensive duo have a bright future at the Emirates, according to 90Min.
Tierney, a humble and unassuming character who left his Glasgow home for the bright lights of London last summer, was apparently feeling a little homesick south of the border.
Maitland-Niles, meanwhile, had made it clear that he wanted to play in central midfield – not the wide, defensive role he has often occupied during the reigns of Unai Emery and Arteta.
But, in what a major boost to Arsenal’s plans going forward, 90Min are saying that both Tierney and Maitland-Niles have been removed from the transfer market after convincing Arteta that they have a big role to play in north London.
Tierney, who had been lined up for a reunion with ex-Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers at Leicester, has comfortably ousted Sead Kolasinac to become Arsenal’s first-choice left-back.
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Maitland-Niles, 22, meanwhile, was on the verge of joining Wolverhampton Wanderers recently.
This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago
