Arsenal duo Maitland-Niles and Willock handed loan switches

England international Ainsley Maitland-Niles has joined West Brom on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season, with Joe Willock making a similar switch to Newcastle United.

Maitland-Niles was part of the Gunners side that lifted the FA Cup and Community Shield last year, with his performances at wing-back earning a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

The 23-year-old Maitland-Niles made five appearances for the Three Lions across this season’s three international breaks to date, although he has only managed the same number of Premier League starts in 2020-21.

Maitland-Niles, who has played 121 times for Arsenal and became the second youngest player in the club’s history after Jack Wilshere when he turned out against Galatasaray in the Champions League aged 17 years and 102 days, is now poised for a relegation fight under Sam Allardyce at second-bottom West Brom.

“Ainsley is a very talented player and we are proud of his hard work and development with us,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who also sanctioned the departure of Shkodran Mustafi to Schalke on a permanent deal amid a flurry of late deadline day activity at Emirates Stadium.

“This decision to go on loan to West Bromwich Albion for the rest of this season is to support Ainsley and his growth further.

“He will be working at a very good club in the Premier League and we all wish him the best of luck during his time at the Hawthorns.”

40 – England are unbeaten in their last 40 competitive games with an Arsenal player included in the starting XI, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles is the first Arsenal player to start a competitive match since March 2017 (Oxlade-Chamberlain v Lithuania). Charm. pic.twitter.com/5noxerXSGg

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 14, 2020

Willock, whose 17 outings in all competitions this season are just four fewer than Maitland-Niles, will now also be concerned with matters at the other end of the Premier League table.

The 21-year-old midfielder bolsters a Newcastle squad who occupy 15th position, eighth points clear of the drop zone after a morale-boosting 2-0 win at Everton.

“Joe is a young player with great ability who is progressing very well and we are happy with his continued development,” Arteta said of the England Under-21 international.

“At this moment in his career, Joe needs to be playing regularly. At Newcastle United, he is going to a very good club with a top quality manager and staff.”