Danny Mills admits that he doesn’t know where Ainsley Maitland-Niles fits into this Arsenal side, and is worried that he may suffer after failing to convince his club to allow him his exit.
The midfielder is believed to have been of interest to Everton this summer, only for the Gunners to reject their advances, which led AMN to post on Instagram, saying: “All I wanna do is go where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna play.”
Despite his comments, he wasn’t allowed to leave the club on Deadline Day, and he will now have to try and convince Mikel Arteta to play him, and he could well be relying on absences in the centre of the park.
Danny Mills believes it will be ‘very difficult’ to break into the manager’s plans however, and admits AMN could ‘suffer’ after his outburst.
“I think it’s difficult. It’s very, very difficult,” the former England defender told the Football Insider.
“Where does he fit in? He clearly wasn’t part of Arteta’s plans. They got rid of one young player in Willock. Now they’re not doing particularly well then all of sudden if you let another talented young player go…
“But where does he fit? He’s not going to play left-back or left-wing back.
“I think it’s a shame because he’s a good young player and he clearly wanted to leave. For whatever reason, Arsenal wouldn’t allow that to happen.
“You just hope he doesn’t suffer because of that. He’s a good player, without a doubt. There are no concerns about that, he just wants to play and needs to play.”
There has been reports that we could switch to a back five again in recent weeks, as we started against Manchester City, which could well see Maitland-Niles get minutes at wing-back, while he may not be that far behind in the pecking order in midfield either.
Where do you believe Maitland-Niles performs his best, at CM,FB or WB?
Patrick
I accept that Danny Mills is fully entitled to give his opinion.
But I cannot see why this site considers it to be worth an article, esp as Mills has no Arsenal connection.
Anyone know why JA does this unconnected to Arsenal comment from a nothing special footballer?
You might just as well ask Mrs Doris Higginbottom from 23 Acacia Avenue, Rotherham what SHE thinks!
After all, she shares that totally unconnected to Arsenal status with Mills.
I mean, it’s hard enough to have to put up with the nonsense that Merson regularly spouts, BUT at least HE has played for us.
His time will come at Arsenal. He needs to up his game,
choose a proper path – Box to Box, a DM or just another utility player.
He is not a creative midfielder, so that option is out
Good Day Jon.
I’ve had a word with Doris.
Like myself she feels it would have been best for all parties, if AMN had indeed moved on in the window just closed.
AJ I think you are fibbing my firiend . Doris has been with me all morning, discussing nuclear physics! Oh and knitting!
I really dont get why we kept AMN, another move or non move that doesn’t make sense for anyone. Arteta and AMN have not seen eye to eye since he came as to where his best position is and since for me AMN has gone backwards as far as progress is concerned. We loan out young players who would actually be good enough to start in many games and keep AMN. For all parties i think it would have been better if they had parted.
You’re not the only one!if AMN is not given a fair chance to prove himself,it will only confirms what many have been said about MA, that he holds grudges,is petty,has a big ego,if he kept him just to show him who is the boss,that would be ver worrying and means that he puts his needs before the club’s.
Let go Willock After a fantastic spell & but block AMN?
Arteta has no clue whatsoever, messy overall management…