Arsenal: Could Ainsley Maitland-Niles replace Aaron Ramsey?

For Arsenal, losing Ainsley Maitland-Niles early in the season was tough. Losing Aaron Ramsey in January would be tougher. But this situation could lead to a revelation.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is as sure of a sure thing that the Arsenal academy has produced in a while. He impressed Arsene Wenger enough to become the second youngest player to earn his professional debut for the club at the age of 17. And in the Champions League, no less. One successful loan spell at Ipswich Town the following season had led to his involvement in the senior squad ever since.

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Last season was a prolific one for Maitland-Niles, appearing 15 times for the club (in what seemed like 15 different positions on the pitch). This season has not progressed as well. He filled in admirably at left back in the first match against Manchester City but succumbed to an unfortunate injury late in the first half. The good news is that he’s projected to be back in training sometime in the next month.

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Conversely, Aaron Ramsey came to Arsenal as a promising 18-year old and was thrust directly into the senior squad. He suffered his own unfortunate leg injury a few years into his time at the club. Of course, Ramsey’s injury was much more gruesome.

But the marauding Welshman steadily re-established himself as a major player at the club. He has become the kind of player that deserves a contract that denotes his importance to the club. Unfortunately, with contract talks seemingly stalled, Ramsey might choose to take his talents elsewhere.

This situation is not ideal. Ramsey is 27 years old. Compared to the rest of the Arsenal starters, he’s roughly in the middle of the age range. And no team wants to lose a starting player, a decade-long servant of the club, in the prime of his career, especially if he leaves for free, which is what will happen when his contract expires next summer.

Enter young Maitland-Niles. At 21, he’s right around the age and experience level that Ramsey was when he started really contributing to the first team. He has a similar playing style to Ramsey: a strong passer who is quick, good on the ball and alert in space, with the athleticism and stamina to influence all aspects of the game in a marauding box-to-box role.

Maitland-Niles hasn’t yet shown much in the way of Ramsey’s ability to score goals (this is partly because most of his appearances have been as a left back or right wing back). But he has shown Ramsey’s ability to play box-to-box, defending and attacking, occasionally showing up with a chance on goal. And as that Champions League professional debut for Maitland-Niles? Guess who he came on to replace. Aaron Ramsey.

Now, most are hoping the Ramsey contract situation gets resolved. I don’t think any Gunners fans would be excited to see him leave the club. But as Unai Emery has already shown, he’s willing to test youngsters with meaningful game time.

Losing Ramsey in January or June, therefore, could lead to Maitland-Niles’ big opportunity. That might be all he needs to complete the circle of his development from when he was a tender 17-year-old.