Ainsley Maitland-Niles says he wasn’t guaranteed a starting role when he chose to join Southampton on loan, but he’s ready for a fight.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles ended up leaving Arsenal on loan this summer, extending his Gunners contract by a year to 2024 before heading to the fellow Premier League side.

Maitland-Niles has had a mixed bag with loans in the past, with an excellent spell at Ipswich Town early in his career, regular football at West Bromwich Albion (who were relegated), and infrequent minutes with AS Roma.

Speaking after completing his latest move to Southampton, Maitland-Niles admitted he’s been given no guarantees over his playing time. It’s up to him to earn it.

“Of course, nothing is promised to you,” the 25-year-old said. “You always have to work and try and grab your shirt as long as possible.

“The manager told me that when coming here. It’s a challenge and I am ready to fight.”

Maitland-Niles has already made his debut for Southampton, coming off the bench for 17 minutes against Wolves at the weekend. But he’ll want to push into the starting lineup as soon as possible.

The Saints have an option to buy in Maitland-Niles’ loan deal. How his individual season plays out over the coming months should give us an idea of whether or not they’ll make the move permanent.