Arsenal: Where will Ainsley Maitland-Niles fit on his return?

Arsenal have been without Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and they will continue to be for weeks, but even when he returns, where does he fit?

Many Arsenal fans out there would tell you that there aren’t many payers they are more excited about than Ainsley Maitland-Niles. He has the mentality of a veteran but the athleticism of someone, well, his age.

And with how excited Unai Emery was to work with Maitland-Niles, after the reported “dossier” he brought in about the young Englishman, that anticipation only grew.

Which is why it downright sucked when Maitland-Niles suffered a leg fracture just 35 minutes into the season. He was playing leftback at the time, with every other option out injured, which goes against the idea that he was going to finally get his shot in the midfield, but such is the curse of being an incredibly talented young man.

Now, with the injury hitting about the midway point, as his return is tentatively scheduled for mid-to-late October, we have to start asking where Maitland-Niles is going to fit when he does return. Because as it stands, the club is starting to find its footing without him, and that can make it rather hard for a young guy to find his way, when a new manager’s system is finally starting to take hold.

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The midfield is crowded as ever. I know people don’t want to hear it, but Granit Xhaka is truly settling into his role well. At this moment, he really can’t be benched. And the role in next to him is a two-man race between Matteo Guendouzi and Lucas Torreira.

Both of those two midfielders has a role to play and there is no reason to expect that another name is needed. Which is a problem when you’re Ainsley Maitland-Niles and you are another name. Another name that has earned the right to some time in that midfield.

That said, the fullback spot that he was filling in for isn’t exactly there either. Needless to say I’d rather see Maitland-Niles stretching his legs more than Nacho Monreal trudging his way towards replacement, but as it stands, I don’t see Emery sticking Maitland-Niles in there when he gets back. But that’s just me, I’m not Emery.

Whatever the case, I do worry about Maitland-Niles and his relevance this year, with the injury weighing in and derailing things. There’s a long way to go, but all we can do is hope for a chance for him.

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