Arsenal: What exactly is Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ next step?

Arsenal are in a delicate situation with Ainsley Maitland-Niles, so isn’t it about time we take the next step? Which… is what exactly?

When you have a talented young man who has proven himself a promising and relevant player, you try to get him into the starting XI as often as possible. But that’s the thing – how possible is it for Arsenal to get Ainsley Maitland-Niles into where he needs to be?

I hate to do it again, but I have to harken back to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. For so many years, the club put off taking the next step with him. The next step, for him, was obvious – just get him a consistently starting role in his preferred position.

He kept showcasing his talent, then getting hurt. Showcasing and getting hurt. The next step gradually backtracked to just “staying healthy.” And then he was gone.

It’s impossible not to draw parallels with the Ox, as Maitland-Niles is going through the exact same thing. His athleticism is as much a blessing as a curse, because he can play so many other positions.

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So where do the Gunners go from here? He’s healthy, and there is an opening at… leftback. Like usual. The good of the team insists that he gets put at leftback, where he can serve the team, stretch his legs, and start to impact the club in a practical way.

But is that a step back in his long-term career? Is that a concession that he won’t ever find his way into his preferred position in the center of the pitch?

The next step isn’t to put him back at leftback. Or rather, let me correct that – the next step isn’t to count that as a solution. With Mohamed Elneny out and Aaron Ramsey leaving, Maitland-Niles has to start pairing with Guendouzi in the middle of the pitch. Even if that means calling on Kolasinac double time, or calling on Lichtsteiner out of position in the midweek fixtures.

The next step is getting Maitland-Niles where he wants to be as often as possible. It means pulling out concessions for him. even if that means burying Ramsey or Elneny (when he’s back), you have to do this.

Now watch Maitland-Niles do his usual thing and play so well that we start considering if he’d actually be better off at fullback.