Ainsley Maitland-Niles has apparently changed his stance over his playing role in the Arsenal team, having previously stated that he wanted more time playing in central midfield.
The 24 year-old was previously claimed to have told Mikel Arteta that he believed he was better used in the centre of midfield, and that he wasn’t exactly happy continually being played at either wing-back or full-back.
AMN later left on loan to join West Brom, where he got his chance to play through the middle, but he has since returned to north London, and has featured at both CM and at right-back in the famous red & white this term.
The versatile academy product is now believed to have changed his stance with playing at right-back again according to TheAthletic.
This decision may well have been the reasoning behind Mikel Arteta not forcing him out the exit door this summer, or it could well have been that there was little interest in his signing him also.
If there has been a change in heart, it could well be that Ainsley has had a reality check because of the lack of interest that came in for him in the previous window, and he may now see that he can be of more use to the team as a versatile operator as opposed to trying to push for minutes in a role that is tough to occupy.
Patrick
Wherever he decides to play AMN is not the answer to Arsenal’s problems. He is not going to solve the creative midfield issues nor is he the fullback we need to add punch to the attack. At best he is a squad player. For regular first team football he should move on.
AMN is a crucial member of the squad over the length
of the season, he likeable and can give the occasional
motm performance when needed !!
Unless you are Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Erling etc, you don’t get to decide where or when to play, that’s what the gaffer is for.
IMO, it MAY well be that reality has finally dawned on AMN that he is not going to ever have a huge career in midfield with any team, other than a lower division one.
So he may well have settled – and if so , wisely – for being a squad player and used in defensive positions, mainly at RB(and even then not as first choice) at Arsenal.
More probably, in any case, he will not be at Arsenal next season. IMO the club will prefer to sell him, but only IF they can get any sort of real fee.
If not, then he will more probably stay here, at least for a while longer.
This is old news, as AMN was reported on his return from loan at WBA to have said that he would be happy to play in any position the Arsenal manager selected him in.
Just remember Sam Allardyce and others gave him this advice when he was at WBA and Ainsley was “smart” enough to take notice.
Good he has accepted playing across different defensive roles. When Everton showed an interest in him this summer, they wanted him to play RB not his preferred midfield role. So he seems to have understood he should play RB if need be, so good for him and Arsenal. Arsenal will play him regularly when Partey goes to the AFCON along with Elneny.