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Ainsley Maitland-Niles
The story goes that when Unai Emery interviewed for the Arsenal job, he impressed the club’s hierarchy by explaining, in keen detail, how he would improve their young players. The example he was said to have used was Maitland-Niles.
Maitland-Niles enjoyed a breakthrough season last year, thanks primarily to his versatility. Normally a central midfield player, he was filling in as a right back for the youth teams until an injury crisis at left back saw him drafted in as a left wing-back for Arsenal’s cup games. With no sign of the club’s mounting injuries abating, he was forced to fill in there in the Premier League.
Despite the unfamiliarity of the position, Maitland-Niles still managed to display his qualities. His extreme pace allowed him to compensate for any positional errors, while his remarkable composure, that at times bordered on apathy, ensured he was never flustered with the ball.
A fractured leg has unfortunately kept him out of the season so far, but he’s still very highly regarded. His versatility already makes him a valuable part of the squad, while many see the potential for him to become a great box-to-box player in the future.
