Mikel Arteta details honest chat with Ainsley Maitland-Niles ahead of Roma transfer - The Mirror

Midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to join Jose Mourinho's Roma on loan and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he's powerless to stopping him from leaving

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta wished Ainsley Maitland-Niles all the best ahead of his move to Jose Mourinho's Roma on loan for the rest of the season.

The England international is heading to the Serie A side for regular action, despite worries in some quarters that Arsenal will be left short in midfield.

Fellow midfielders Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are currently representing Ghana and Egypt respectively at this month's Africa Cup of Nations and will miss a number of fixtures - starting with this weekend's FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest.

Arteta, though, has admitted he's powerless to stopping Maitland-Niles from pursuing a move abroad and has wished him all the best.

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"Ainsley came to me and explained the reasons why he thought the best thing for him in his career right now was to move away," said the Gunners boss.

"He felt the opportunity to go to Rome and work with Jose was a good one. Being fair with the amount of minutes that he’s played he was entitled to that opportunity. We wish him the best."

Arsenal face a busy few weeks ahead, with a two-legged EFL Cup semi-final tie against Liverpool and the north London derby against Tottenham on the horizon.

On the lack of cover, Arteta added: "We are very, very short at the moment. But on a player this cannot be the only argument to keep a player.

"He was very straight with me and I understood the situation. We are going to move and we are going to look for options because we are very short there."

Arteta could be without eight players - including Maitland-Niles - for the cup tie against Forest.

Along with Partey and Elneny, Nicolas Pepe (AFCON), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (AFCON/Covid), Sead Kolasinac (ankle) and Gabriel (suspension) will all miss the game.

Calum Chambers is currently recovering from Covid but could still play if he tests negative twice before the tie.

"We have a special situation... because there are three players with different issues at the moment," noted Arteta. "We have to live with that and so far the players that are here are very committed."

Many Arsenal fans are hoping to get another glimpse of Charlie Patino against Forest, who scored on his senior debut against Sunderland last month.

"It’s all the players that are involved around the first team they have the opportunity to do that," said Arteta when asked about the young midfielder's chances of playing. "Charlie is not an exception."

Arteta was also asked about Aubameyang's future, as the striker hasn't played since being stripped of the captaincy last month.

The former Borussia Dortmund star is currently isolating with Covid and is expected to represent Gabon in the Africa Cup of Nations on his recovery.

Many believe he will leave the Emirates this month - if he finds a potential suitor - but his current manager was reluctant to speculate.

"For me difficult to judge when the players are away," said Arteta. "The decisions that I have taken were in the best interest of the club and trying to do the right thing."