Arsenal: Hector Bellerin injury the Ainsley Maitland-Niles chance

Hector Bellerin will likely be out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. His absence gives Ainsley Maitland-Niles a chance to establish himself at one position in the Arsenal first team.

It was obvious as soon as it happened. A twisted knee. His foot planted. Weight going through it. Non-contract. All the signs were there. And then the stretcher came out, the arm over the head, seemingly covering tear-stained eyes. Hector Bellerin had torn his cruciate ligament. Sadly, that was the best the news that he could possibly hear.

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After the match, Unai Emery too feared the worst. He stated that Bellerin would undergo scans on Monday but that he thought that it would be a cruciate ligament injury too. On Monday night, the news was confirmed.

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The Arsenal right-back will miss the remainder of the season and potentially the start of next season. This is a serious injury. Not only could it mean that he misses serious time, but it could end up affecting his play. Fernando Torres was never the same after his injuries. Neither was Jack Wilshere. It took Aaron Ramsey years to fully recover from his dastardly broken leg. Suddenly, in the ruthless modern world of football, a chance for another has arisen.

And that other is Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The 21-year-old has sold himself as a versatile depth player who can fill in at a number of positions. It is a key reason as to why he has been offered so many playing opportunities in recent years: Maitland-Niles, by my count, has played left-back, right-back, left wing-back, right wing-back, central midfield and right wing, and all in the last two seasons.

But it is time for him to specialise. If Maitland-Niles wants to fulfil his talent, and I am sure that he does, then he needs to master one position, not be a jack of many. Phil Neville, Owen Hargreaves, even the likes of Ramsey and Wilshere, to an extent, all suffered because they never had the chance to play in one position for an extended period of time.

I have often wondered whether Maitland-Niles would be best suited to a right-back role. He has the speed, the intelligence, the tackling ability and the composure in possession to bound up and down the flank and provide the balance of defensive security and offensive threat that all modern day full-backs must now offer.

A little like Danny Rose has found a home at left-back for Spurs or Ashley Young has settled in at full-back for Manchester United, it is now time for Maitland-Niles to make that same progression. This is his chance to establish himself as a consistent starter in one position. For his career, this is a rare, must-take opportunity.

I wish Bellerin all the best in his recovery. I have torn my cruciate ligament in my right and left knees. Unfortunately, I know how he feels. But football continues to move on. This is Maitland-Niles’ chance.