Ainsley Maitland-Niles

[DiamondGooner]

Strong performance.

Do you agree with what I said the other day though, that if he's going to make it here he's going to have to set his mind to playing Wing Back like Kola?

Like I said to HotHead he's been active for 3 seasons and between 2 managers he's played a handful of games central and every other game WB.

That's a sign if ever you didn't see it before.

............. while a 19 yr old Guendouzi has been able to lock CM down since he got here position wise.

[Jedi]

I thought he was shit against United but definitely good today

[DiamondGooner]

He was good against Utd after about 30mins, helped us see them off and made vital tackles especially in the 2nd half.

First 20mins though he was bad giving the ball away but he shook that off eventually.

[Zedie]

I thought he was shit against United but definitely good today

He was great against man u imo. A bit shakey for the opening, but the last 70 mins or so he was a f***ing rock defensively.

He defo struggled going forward and I think that'll be his biggest weakness imo.

Hes just not a natural crosser. He can play the short pass inside but nothing more with any real confidence imo.

[Losmeister]

making improvements

[Arsenal Tone]

I like him going forward. His end product is better than Iwobi's.

[CynicalGooner]

Easily the best game he's ever played for us and really happy he scored. Defensively he was solid and cleaned up after other people's mistakes several times. Going forward he was energetic and intelligent. Instead of just crossing to nobody for the first goal, he waited and then gave it to Ramsey in a good position. Great work

[theHotHead]

Slow start again but came in strong. Some of his recovering tackles were excellent. What really pleased me was his composure in the final third, instead of just tossing the ball into the box aimlessly he went for an altogether unusual option, one of which led to a goal.

He defends better than Bellerin, if he can keep improving offensively Bellerin will not be number one RB. I think AMN is a better footballer than Bellerin as it is.

[DiamondGooner]

Found this from January ........... I think my theory was right then, seems his improvement at WB might have something to do with that its now clicked that he's settled into playing wide rather than central, he wasn't going to get in midfield anyway so its good he's focused on where managers have used him the last 3 seasons.

Seems in his mind he's realised this and made a full transition which is better for his career tbf, so many guys are stuck thinking they want a certain position when their value to managers is elsewhere, Walcott took till age 28 before he fully focused on being a winger over a striker.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football ... s-13844617

[Arsenalthebest]

What is AMN natural position?

Anyway nice to hear he did well and get a goal.

[DiamondGooner]

What is AMN natural position?

Anyway nice to hear he did well and get a goal.

Well he came out of the academy as CM or CDM but whenever Wenger tried him there he looked pretty bad tbf and certainly not as assured in that role as lets say Guendouzi or a 22 yr old Torreia.

He's been playing full back for 3 seasons now yet some people still use the "But its not his natural position" like he's not playing to his potential because of it, he'll never make it as a CM, that's just facts, he's not even as good as Elneny centrally.

But seems from that interview he's not only accepted his role out wide but has realised that's where his career is heading and has decided to make the best of it and claim it, good for him, so many other players don't and hurt their value because of it long term.

Victor Moses had to do it, Ashley Young even had to it.

[Zedie]

What is AMN natural position?

Anyway nice to hear he did well and get a goal.

Started off as a DM. Hes only 21 though, theres still loads of adaptation to happen in those early years.

[Arsenal Tone]

A bit kneejerk, but i reckon he's better going forward than iwobi

[Zenith]

Thought he had a good game today.

Very solid with his interceptions and tackling.

[Fenice]

Thought he had a good game today.

Very solid with his interceptions and tackling.

Agreed. Some of his runs were perfect. Did well.