Arsenal: Ainsley Maitland-Niles acing interview

Ainsley Maitland-Niles has now started five successive games for Arsenal. So far, he is acing his interview to push for a starting role next season.

Entering the 2018/19 season, the next stage in Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ development was quite clear. Not easy. But plain to see. He needed to force his way into the Arsenal starting XI on a regular basis, establishing himself as the number one option at a particular position.

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Initially, it was believed that Maitland-Niles would become a central midfielder. That is what he and former manager Arsene Wenger claimed. But this season, options in the midfield have been few and far between, especially with the signings of Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi, and Unai Emery has predominantly used Maitland-Niles on the right flank, either as a full-back or winger.

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In recent weeks, Maitland-Niles has proved his worth as the clear starter at the right wing-back position in either a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 system. He has now played the full 90 minutes in the last five matches in all competitions. This opportunity to start only presented itself because of the season-ending injury to Hector Bellerin, tearing his ACL and undergoing surgery in late January. But Maitland-Niles is not letting it pass him by.

In four of the past five starts, Maitland-Niles has performed excellently. Still getting forward with pace and purpose, notching a goal and an assist, he has allied that with improved defensive play. He is not so loose in his attention, he is much more committed to challenges, driving on the ball hard instead of standing off the opponent, and he still possesses the recovery speed to bail him out of difficult situations.

What has been most pleasing about his recent form has been an added steel. Maitland-Niles’ composure on the ball has always been a major strength of his play. He is happy to receive the ball under pressure, confident in his ability to control it and find a teammate with a good pass. But sometimes, that confidence leans towards complacency.

This complacency, in defensive and offensive situations, has caused him trouble. Sometimes, it looks as though he thinks he is going to win the race to a loose ball and then doesn’t because he underestimates the speed of the opponent. Or he is so lackadaisical with his touch that he invites a tackle to nick the ball away.

This has been almost completely rid from his game. He is so much more committed and focused in all of his play. This was evident on Thursday night against Napoli, a match that he patrolled the right flank with great efficacy despite not having much defensive help in front of him. The timing of his pressing, his decision-making of when to lunge into a tackle, the efficiency of his touches on the ball. All were excellent, and that has not usually been the case.

Whether Maitland-Niles can earn a starting role for himself next season remains to be seen. Bellerin will be back and will likely be the presumed starter. But, thus far, the 21-year-old has taken his opportunity. He has aced his interview. In the end, that is all that he can doo.