![Ainsley Maitland-Niles signs for Lyon [image via Lyon]](https://dailycannon.com/static/uploads/2023/08/ainsley-maitland-nils-lyon-e1691481792138.png "ainsley maitland-nils lyon")
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has had far from the ideal start to life with Olympique Lyonnais, with the Ligue 1 club currently propping up the table.
After his release from Arsenal earlier this year, Ainsley Maitland-Niles made a free-transfer move to Lyon in France, joining the club on a four-year deal.
At the time, it seemed like a good move, with Maitland-Niles leaving a club where he couldn’t break into the team for a fresh start at another established European side. But things have taken an unexpected turn for the worse.
Nine games into the season, Lyon are yet to win a game in Ligue 1, racking up three draws and six defeats.
Unsurprisingly, that leaves them bottom of the table, having just lost to the team who were previously bottom – Clermont Foot.
In Ligue 1, the bottom two places are automatic relegation spots, and 16th place puts you into a relegation play-off match.
As a result, 15th is the lowest league position that guarantees safety. Lyon are five points off 16th, and six points off 15th.
On an individual level, Maitland-Niles has made five appearances (three starts) since his move.
The former Gunner likely won’t be too happy with the fact that he’s made just one start and one substitute appearance since the September international break, and he was subbed off at half-time in the start.
As for why things are going so badly for Lyon, there are a number of factors.
In their article on the subject, GFFN highlight infighting between Jean-Michel Aulas and new majority shareholder John Textor, a rotating door in the managerial position, and the transfer restrictions placed on Lyon this summer by French football financial watchdog, the DNCG.
Lyon’s financial situation likely contributed to the appeal of signing Maitland-Niles on a free transfer, but that move evidently hasn’t been enough to aid their situation so far.
Fellow former Gunner Alexandre Lacazette has also had a mixed start to the season, scoring three goals in six games, but missing a further two matches after receiving an embarrassing straight red card against Montpellier.
Lacazette thought he’d got Lyon on track for their first win of the season ahead of the October international break, scoring twice against Lorient to give his team a 3-1 lead.
But Lyon collapsed in the second half, drew 3-3, and their woes continued.
Unless things suddenly improve, Lacazette and Maitland-Niles now face a relegation fight over the coming months.