Arsenal Vs Newcastle United: Ainsley Maitland-Niles makes his mark

Arsenal hosted Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon with Ainsley Maitland-Niles earning his second successive start at left-back. He is beginning to make his mark.

Arsenal were not at their best against Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon. Although they controlled the first half with great surety and creativity, they were unable to advance their advantage to more than just a goal, and suffered later in the game with the visitors buoyed by the possibility of snatching a point.

Catch the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast here

One positive from the game, however, came in the form of a young left-back. Well, actually, that isn’t quite. He is a young central midfielder who is playing left-back. But that’s by the bye. He is being fielded as a left-back, and he’s doing pretty well.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

I am, of course, referring to Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The Europa League star who has long been touted by Arsene Wenger as someone who could make an impact in the starting XI, if the opportunity ever arose, made his Premier League debut against West Ham United on Wednesday night. That was a surprise, although, in hindsight, an understandable decision.

Sead Kolasinac, as a player who is accustomed to a winter break, has no experience of English football prior to this season, and does not have an obvious reserve in the squad, meaning that any injury could drastically derail the make-up of the system, had played a lot of football. Only Nacho Monreal, Hector Bellerin, Petr Cech and Granit Xhaka had played more Premier League minutes before Wednesday’s trip to London Stadium. And with the fixture congestion beginning to cause issues with freshness, it made sense to offer the Bosnian some rest.

The same argument could not be said for Saturday’s game against Newcastle, however. Kolasinac did not need to be rested, he did not need a break, he did not need time to recover. Nevertheless, Maitland-Niles still started in his stead.

That, I believe, is significant. I believe that Wenger is doing more than providing Kolasinac with an extended intermission from the first team, like he would have received when in Germany thanks to the winter break. While that may still be a factor in his thinking, and I am sure it is, there is more to this selection decision.

I believe that Wenger genuinely sees Maitland-Niles as a long-term member of the Arsenal first-team squad. He has heralded him as a key element of the less experienced Europa League side, and has praised his natural ability on several occasions in the past.

Next: Arsenal Vs Newcastle United: Player ratings

Maitland-Niles is making his mark on this football team. Not only is he playing, but he is playing well. He may have a bright future; he may also have a bright present. Wenger is wanting to tap into both.