Mikel Arteta has urged Ainsley Maitland-Niles to ‘focus’ more on the present if the 25-year-old wants to have a future.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles will not be in the Southampton squad that faces Arsenal on Sunday due to the restrictions that are put on players being able to face their parent club.

Speaking after completing his move to Southampton, Maitland-Niles admitted he was given no guarantees over his playing time.

“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.”

Although Maitland-Niles played 17 minutes from the bench just two days after joining from Arsenal, which was three days before he made those comments above, he was then excluded from the Southampton squad for a few weeks with Ralph Hasenhuttl explaining that the Arsenal loanee wasn’t ready.

Maitland-Niles returned to the squad at the start of October and has started three of Southampton’s four since. In total, he has played just 246 minutes this season, picking up two yellows. As I said, however, most of those minutes have come this month as he starts games.

Before the game against Southampton on Sunday, Mikel Arteta was asked about his player out on loan.

“Obviously, he won’t be able to play against us and as you said, he hasn’t played that much, but hopefully, he can get the minutes and can pick up some momentum as well, because we need him to play the games,” Arteta said.

The Arsenal manager was then asked if Maitland-Niles had a future with Arsenal.

“Well, the future that he has right now is the present,” Arteta said, implying there is no future if the present is wasted.

“The most important thing is for him to get in there, get his place and start to perform at the level that he can.”

Arteta wouldn’t be drawn on what Maitland-Niles needs to do to get back to his best, saying, “It’s something for his manager now to provide the answer because he’s not with us.

“He needs to focus on the present which is the most important thing for his future.”

There were reports that Arsenal extended Maitland-Niles’ Arsenal deal before he left on loan but they have not been confirmed.

Southampton reportedly have an option in the loan deal should they wish to purchase Maitland-Niles at the end of the season.