Arsenal are preparing to return to action next week, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles just might be ready to fight for his place.
The 22 year-old had fallen out of favour in North London this season, following the arrival of Mikel Arteta as coach in December, but he may be given a lifeline in the coming months.
AC Milan are credited with an interest in his signature according to the DailyMail, and with 10 league games left to play, he could well find himself fighting for his future.
We are set to return to action next Wednesday against Manchester City, but games are expected to come thick and fast as they look to wrap the campaign up, and new rules have even been brought in to protect the players, with as many as five substitutions allowed for the remainder of the campaign.
Maitland-Niles was selected to start in his favoured midfield role in our first friendly on Saturday as we prepare to return to action, and is said to have pulled the strings as we beat Charlton 6-0.
Question marks have been raised about our midfield this term, and a number of targets have been mooted, but with our midfield viewed as one of our weakest spots, AMN may well get the nod to stake a claim for his preferred role.
Mikel Arteta has previously told ArsenalFC that the player needs to work hard in training to show him that he is deserving of a spot, with younger and hungrier players, but AMN may well find himself getting more match minutes due to the new regulations, which could well see him do his talking on the pitch.
Does Maitland-Niles have a shot at earning a regular first-team role in midfield? Is he good enough for Arsenal FC?
Patrick
Always liked him it’s a pity how his career has gone so far.
I was impressed with his effort and enthusiasm early in the season. However, that seemed to dry up as the season progressed as time after time he was caught napping or simply uninterested in getting involved in the game.
Shame, really. He had all the properties to climb the ladder quickly but I guess even MA could see he needs to work harder for it!
oh…
Feel we should hold on to him. I actually think he is better in the middle of the park than guendozi.
I also think it’s good to have a utility player who can plug wholesale if he is happy to do so.
I feel we may also loose toriera who appears in settled at arsenal so why not ditch the player who doesnt want to be here. I also like toriera alot
He was unhappy to be used to help at RB then benched without a chance given to him at his midfield spot.
That would ruin a youngster motivation and spirit. Saka is watching this and refuses to extend.
Niles is extremely talented midfield player, he will go and play along his former teamate Bennacer who Real is checking closely.
I can see him do well in Italy at Napoli, Inter, Juve, Roma…Bayern, Athletico for sure.
Looking at Sancho and how Nelson was emulating his boy in Germany, it is stupid to have forced him back to be benched and injured. He would have been way further if stayed there.
So does Rowe, glad he went back but his momentum was slow down half season long…
Why would we bring him project Nelson back if benched.
Then bring Ceballos and Pepe to play ahead of them?
We have a great youth system, if they scared to extend contract, we have a PB.
AMN is a naturally gifted midfield player and MA must play him in his favoured role. I am sure AMN will find his feet again and will flourish in his role in the midfield.
Maitland-Niles is gòod for Arsenal. He is better than the current defensive mid-fielders. The problem is not Maitland-Niles, but Arteta. In any working environment, someone can be hated for doing less harm.
A talent who can finally flourish as a box to box midfielder under Arteta.