Arsenal: Stephan Lichtsteiner does not negate Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Arsenal are set to sign Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free transfer. His addition does not negate the use of Ainsley Maitland-Niles as a right-back, however.

Last year, Hector Bellerin played more than 4000 minutes of football in all competitions. There is no player in the Arsenal squad that played more. And if he were to get injured at any point in the season, Arsene Wenger would have been scrambling to find a suitable and sustained replacement. That is why he played so many minutes.

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

A deputy in this summer’s window, then, was one of many priorities. And it seems as if the club has found one. Stephan Lichtsteiner is reportedly close to agreeing to a free-agent contract that will see him arrive in north London after a wonderfully lucrative seven years at Juventus that included seven Serie A titles, two Champions League final appearances, four Coppa Italias and three Supercoppa Italianas.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 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

The 34-year-old will unquestionably arrive as Bellerin’s back-up. But that is precisely what is needed. Moreover, he’s cheap, boasts a high-character, and will be acutely aware of the role that he is coming to play, meaning that dressing room friction is unlikely to occur. That is important.  That said, some have questioned whether Lichtsteiner’s arrival may limit the opportunities of Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Maitland-Niles, while a central midfielder, has enjoyed plenty of time at full-back or wing-back. Of the 16 starts that he made in the Premier League and Europa League last year, eight in each competition, only two came in the defensive midfield position — another two came at right-back; four came at left-back; seven came at left wing-back during the period in which Wenger implemented a 3-4-3 system.

Most of those appearances came on the left flank where both Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal were present. And yet, Maitland-Niles was still able to enjoy plenty of opportunities at the left-back and left wing-back positions. So why should it be any different with Lichtsteiner and Bellerin next season?

Obviously, Maitland-Niles benefitted from extended periods of absence for both Kolasinac and Monreal. But that could very easily happen for Lichtsteiner and Bellerin too. Moreover, if Maitland-Niles is seen as a central midfielder and not a right-back, then he does not need opportunities to play at right-back, he needs them in central midfield.

I do question whether Maitland-Niles is best suited to a midfield role. I wonder if right-back is his natural home. But for now, it is clear that both Maitland-Niles and the club believe that his home is in midfield. Adding another right-back is actually a good thing for him. It will allow him to solely focus on the position that he wants to play in.

Next: Arsenal: 30 greatest players in history

Maitland-Niles does need to begin forcing his way into this Arsenal team with a little more regularity next season. Rather than 16 starts, he should be pushing for 20-plus. But they must come in the correct positions and, for now, that is midfield, not right-back. If he’s needed there, then great. He’s available. But if not, let him play where he wants to.