Arsenal legend Sol Campbell says the club should have allowed Ainsley Maitland-Niles to leave this summer.

The Englishman has fallen down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta and had hoped to join Everton, even taking to the public arena to express his dissatisfaction at the Emirates.

But the Gunners ultimately blocked Maitland-Niles from leaving and held 'clear-the-air' talks which have seen him return to Arteta's squad.

Campbell told talkSPORT: "Young man, desperate to play, I get it. Arsenal need a squad, being selfish; not going to Everton – a fantastic move – will have been disheartening.

"He needs his career to move on and develop, get back into the England team. If I can't get into this team, I need to join a new one."