Arsenal: Does Guendouzi upset Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ trajectory?

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been a source of excitement for years at Arsenal, but has Matteo Guendouzi upset that trajectory a bit?

Last year, I don’t think many Arsenal fans out there would argue with the notion that Ainsley Maitland-Niles was the most exciting player on the team. All he needed was a nice and long opportunity to play central midfield – his preferred position – and everything would work itself out.

Deployment at fullback, and now back on the wings, where he started his career, have not provided the hopefulness that we’ve been looking for, and his injury in the first of the season (playing fullback, mind you), went even further to upset that trajectory.

But none of those things could do the damage that Matteo Guendouzi has done. Younger by a year and making the inroads at central midfield that Maitland-Niles has been dying for, Guendouzi has put himself at the top of the “next gen” list.

If there is every an opening in the midfield, it will be Guendouzi who gets the spot, without question. He showcases the qualities that are to die for in a young midfielder – an undying work ethic, fantastic vision and fearlessness when attacking the ball.

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Which are three things that Maitland-Niles was becoming known for as well. Albeit he was becoming known for it as he was scattered about the pitch in utility roles, only managing a couple of opportunities in the center of the pitch.

There is still plenty of reason to believe in Maitland-Niles and his future at the club, but barring a shift in formation or a cataclysmic run of injuries, there just aren’t going to be any opportunities in the midfield. Not with Torreira (just two years older than Maitland-Niles) and Xhaka holding down the roles, with Guendouzi set to snap up any scraps leftover.

I do wonder what this means for Maitland-Niles. I worry that he is seeing the same things we are seeing. That if he wants to play, he is better off playing fullback or winger, because there is actually an opportunity there that is nonexistent in the midfield. I won’t invoke any names, but we’ve been here before, with an immensely talented player losing out on his preferred position and taking extreme measures to find his fortune somewhere else.

It used to be a cautionary tale, but now it’s becoming something of a reality. It is going to be hard to keep Maitland-Niles happy while Guendouzi is here.