Arsenal: Ainsley Maitland-Niles return at just right time

Both Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac missed Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Leicester City and are dealing with injuries this week. Ainsley Maitland-Niles might well be returning at just the right time.

It was a surprise when Arsenal’s teamsheet was released prior to Monday night’s 3-1 win over Leicester City. Without any prior warning, neither Sead Kolasinac or Nacho Monreal were even on the bench, with Stephan Lichtsteiner instead starting at left back, shifted over from his usual right-sided duties.

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After the match, Unai Emery revealed that the pair had picked up knocks in training and had been ruled out on Monday morning. In fact, when Lichtsteiner was withdrawn with a little under half an hour to play, central midfielder Granit Xhaka had to man the left side of the defence. This was very much a make-do-and-mend.

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It will be that way once more on Thursday night. Both Monreal and Kolasinac have been left in north London, unable to make the trip to Lisbon. It will most probably be Lichtsteiner who again fills in, but, as Emery noted after the win over Leicester, it is far from an ideal situation:

"“We had another player to help us like Lichtsteiner today and Xhaka – he played 30 minutes at left-back – but for us, for our balance it’s better Nacho or Sead are OK to play in this position.”"

The one person who could solve all of this defensive shuffling is Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The 21-year-old has been rehabbing a small fracture of the left fibula which he suffered playing the very position that he is now needed in on the opening weekend of the season, hobbling off in the 34th minute, replaced by the makeshift man he would now be replacing, Lichtsteiner.

Maitland-Niles has returned to full training and is nearing readiness to feature. He has also not travelled with the squad in midweek, but should Monreal or Kolasinac’s injury linger on for any period of time, — the extent of either injury is still somewhat murky with information hard to prise from the club — he will be an invaluable option to have.

As Emery states, by playing Lichtsteiner at left back, the team lacks that natural balance that comes with playing a better suited left-sided player. Maitland-Niles may also be right-footed like Lichtsteiner, but he has played more minutes on the left flank than the right. The Swiss captain, in comparison, has almost exclusively been a right-sided player, either a full back, wing-back or wide midfielder.

Maitland-Niles’ return, then, comes at just right the moment for Emery and Arsenal. Although he should not be rushed back from injury and must only be used when completely ready and confident in his body, if he is able to play on Sunday against Crystal Palace, for instance, his presence could be critical.

While Hector Bellerin has steadily improved and settled the formerly stormy waters at right-back, on the opposite flank, the wind is yet to subside and the waves are yet to die down. Uncertainty still resides. Perhaps Maitland-Niles can be the calming influence that is required.