As the deadline grew closer in the summer transfer window of 2021, Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles only grew in frustration with his role at the club.
A lack of game time meant that he wanted a move away and he wanted it now, taking to Instragram to admit: “All I wanna do is go where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna play.”
It was thought that Everton were interested in a move but ultimately a move fell through and the now 25-year-old was forced to stay in north London until January having featured on just 11 occasions.
A temporary switch was finally forthcoming for Maitland-Niles at the beginning of 2022, joining none other than Jose Mourinho at Roma.
He failed to impress, however, starting just six times in Serie A, while he didn’t even make it off the bench in ten matches.
That left the Gunners man at a crossroads and now in the final year of his deal, joined Southampton on a season-long loan for 2022/23 where he has endured yet another mixed stint.
Does Maitland-Niles have a future at Arsenal?
The short answer to that question is a short one; no. It feels incredibly likely that the 5 foot 10 ace will be handed a new deal by Mikel Arteta, particularly after his outburst 18 months ago.
He did feature in pre-season for the Islington outfit but it would not be a surprise if those were his last appearances in the famous red and white of Arsenal. After all, his attitude and desire to play in midfield has ultimately seen him cast aside.
The Saints loanee has always lusted after playing in the centre of the park but ultimately, he hasn’t been good enough for that role.
50 of his career matches have seen him feature in the middle, as opposed to 44 as a right back and 87 as a right midfielder/right-wing back.
That was where Arteta saw a role for him and that is the position he is now thriving in for Southampton.
Why, you dare ask, does Maitland-Niles want to play in the middle, then? It’s a tricky question, because right now he’d be perfect in Arsenal’s system.
Their Spanish manager is now renowned for operating with inverted wing-backs, particularly on the left-hand side of his defence where Oleksandr Zinchenko will play down the left out of possession but will come inside when Arsenal have the ball.
Such is his influence that against Manchester United, the vast majority of his play (heat map via Sofascore below) saw him operate as an extra number 10 beside skipper Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka.
A player of a similar variety is missing on the right. Ben White is known for overlapping while Bukayo Saka cuts inside.
However, the Gunners have been targeting Ivan Fresneda of Real Valladolid, a right-back who could be the ‘next Zinchenko’ such is his ability to play inside.
That said, Edu and co could save millions by looking towards Maitland-Niles to fulfil that role in the future.
He will have to improve his performances and ultimately earn a new deal but his display against Chelsea last Saturday was a good starting point.
How did Maitland-Niles perform against Chelsea?
In what was described as his ‘best performance in a Southampton shirt’ by Hampshire Live’s Mark Wyatt, the full-back first bullied Joao Felix and Mason Mount before then completely bullying long-term Arsenal target Mykhaylo Mudryk too.
The ex-West Brom loanee was vital in helping Saints earn a rare win and an ever-rarer clean sheet, acting as a colossus on the right-hand side of defence.
He made a whopping six tackles to stop Chelsea’s attack in their tracks, proving himself to be a phenomenal one-on-one defender.
Maitland-Niles won a further nine ground duels and won 100% of his aerial battles while also succeeding with three of his four dribbles and completing his one and only cross.
It was the complete performance from a man who now just needs to show a bit of consistency. Once dubbed a “Rolls-Royce” by Martin Keown, he lived up to that billing at the weekend, with Mount, Raheem Sterling and Mudryk who all occupied spaces on the left during the game completing just two of the nine dribbles they attempted between them.
The latter was introduced in the second half but was constantly met with a stern ‘you shalt not pass’ policy, stepping in to intervene and stop the Ukrainian speedster in his tracks.
It was a superb performance and one that should have Arteta taking notice. If only he could do it on a regular basis.