Arsenal opportunity may arise for Ainsley Maitland-Niles in Mikel Arteta’s midfield if the club fail to secure transfer targets this summer. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
With a healthy selection of Premier League clubs hoping to take Ainsley Maitland-Niles on loan in January, his decision to shun more established sides in favour of West Brom appeared to signal the end of his time at Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta is not the first Arsenal manager to field Maitland-Niles in his unfavoured full-back position. Arsene Wenger and Unai Emery before him also utilised the Hale Ender in wide positions, with only ever fleeting appearances in the middle of the park.
His professional debut at the age of 17 may have been in midfield but even in the loan spell at Ipswich that followed he operated on the right – this time as a winger – and moving to the Hawthorns to pursue a career as a No. 8 demonstrated a desire to seek what Arsenal would not provide him.
Central midfield is also a position that Arsenal are keen to reinforce this summer with Thomas Partey requiring an experienced operator alongside him to replace Granit Xhaka, whenever the Swiss may eventually depart.
Arsenal opportunity may arise for Ainsley Maitland-Niles in Mikel Arteta’s midfield if the club fail to secure transfer targets this summer
Adding Albert Sambi Lokonga in the ranks has also further damaged Maitland-Niles’ hopes of more regular minutes in midfield, prompting the start of what appears to be the end.
His time at West Brom didn’t pull up any trees but also did no harm to the 23-year-old’s goals of finding a club where he will no longer be considered a full-back. There is Premier League interest in his signature and should he want it, and Arsenal accept what offers comes their way, it feels like an easy deal to pull off.
Young, homegrown, versatile (even if he doesn’t want to be) and mobile, Maitland-Niles certainly has a part to play in this division outside of north London.
One of the reasonably interesting side notes of the Gunners’ pre-season outings is that in each occasion Maitland-Niles has featured he has played in midfield. This may be a reflection of the lack of depth and availability in the squad as well as Arteta aiming to boost his chances of a sale. Or, maybe not?
As it stands, Partey is joined by Mohamed Elneny and Sambi in that department. Two of those are heading off to AFCON in January and the latter is new to English football. Meanwhile, Joe Willock is consistently linked being linked with a loan move to Newcastle.
Is there a space opening up? Or is it mere coincidence with work well underway for new arrivals and departures?
Continued…
July 27, 2021</a></p></blockquote>
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<h2>Arsenal opportunity may arise for Ainsley Maitland-Niles in Mikel Arteta’s midfield if the club fail to secure transfer targets this summer</h2>
<p>Adding Albert Sambi Lokonga in the ranks has also further damaged Maitland-Niles’ hopes of more regular minutes in midfield, prompting the start of what appears to be the end.</p>
<p>His time at West Brom didn’t pull up any trees but also did no harm to the 23-year-old’s goals of finding a club where he will no longer be considered a full-back. There is <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/05/11/arsenal-receive-maitland-niles-interest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League interest in his signature</a> and should he want it, and Arsenal accept what offers comes their way, it feels like an easy deal to pull off.</p>
<p>Young, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/25/arsenal-carried-away-english-transfers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">homegrown</a>, versatile (even if he doesn’t want to be) and mobile, Maitland-Niles certainly has a part to play in this division outside of north London.</p>
<p>One of the reasonably interesting side notes of the <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/28/arsenal-player-ratings-vs-watford/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gunners’ pre-season</a> outings is that in each occasion Maitland-Niles has featured he has played in midfield. This may be a reflection of the lack of depth and availability in the squad as well as Arteta aiming to boost his chances of a sale. Or, maybe not?</p>
<p>As it stands, Partey is joined by Mohamed Elneny and Sambi in that department. Two of those are heading off to AFCON in January and the latter is new to English football. Meanwhile, Joe Willock is consistently linked being linked with a loan move to Newcastle.</p>
<p>Is there a space opening up? Or is it mere coincidence with work well underway for new arrivals and departures?</p>
<p><em>Continued…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> AMN in with a shout? </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-111164" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1292138596-850x560.jpeg" alt="Arsenal, Ainsley Maitland-Niles" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal and Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal look dejected following their team’s defeat in the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal. (Photo by Peter Powell –</p>
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<h2>Does Ainsley Maitland-Niles Have a Future at Arsenal?</h2>
<p>Arsenal will <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/24/arsenal-4-concerns-season-arteta/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sign another midfielder</a>. Of this there is no doubt. They simply have to and it would be catastrophic if they didn’t.</p>
<p>Looking at the options, however, if Willock does leave as he’s heavily rumoured to be doing, all of the midfielders left are behind the ball players. They’re No. 6’s of some variety.</p>
<p>Miguel Azeez, who wasn’t mentioned earlier, has strong technical qualities but still classifies much more as a No. 6, while Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka will be moved on. Even they are behind the ball midfielders.</p>
<p>Links to Manuel Locatelli, <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/20/arsenal-2-standby-midfield-transfers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ruben Neves and Yves Bissouma</a> don’t help alter the variety in the middle of the park. Whoever comes in to join Partey in midfield, based on the rumours, looks more likely to be of the Neves ilk.</p>
<p>And so with Willock gone there is only Maitland-Niles to break that mould. With two years left on his deal this is prime selling time and the debate over whether he’s of the standard required to be playing in midfield for Arsenal remains potent, but it does hint towards some potential involvement.</p>
<p>Add to that rumours of a Cedric and Hector Bellerin departure and, while it’s not what he wants, he could even add <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/03/29/arsenal-right-back-summer-transfer-need/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cover at right-back</a>.</p>
<p>Maitland-Niles is an Arsenal fan and if he can stay he will want to, but being a bit-part option may not suffice. He’s desperate to forge a career as a No. 8 and nobody can knock his determination yet the promise of a few minutes at his boyhood club might not match regular <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"https://www.90min.com/leagues/premier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Premier League</a> outings elsewhere.</p>
<p>Furthermore, he’d have to pen fresh terms for this to even be a consideration and his signature is one of precious few Arsenal can be commanding around £20m for.</p>
<p>Fans aren’t privy to what is said behind the scenes but looking at the midfield eventuality, both Willock and Maitland-Niles going leaves a pool of No. 6’s and not much else.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal 4-1 Watford: 4 talking points" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/28/arsenal-watford-4-talking-points/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/30/arsenal-opportunity-maitland-niles/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2021/07/28/arsenal-watford-4-talking-points/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal 4-1 Watford: 4 talking points </a> </div>
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<p>Is there much hope for him? Not especially, but it’s far from clear cut.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">
