Arsenal: The difference between Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Alex Iwobi

Arsenal have a lot to figure out before next year begins, so let’s commence by asking the Ainsley Maitland-Niles question that needs asking. Deal?

Alright, we’re moving out of this stressful Premier League season and Arsenal have to start asking the tough questions. I already asked the Alex Iwobi question and came through with a resounding “sell him,” so time to talk about another fringe guy – Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

There is one big difference between Alex Iwobi‘s situation and Ainsley Maitland-Niles‘ situation, though. One big difference. And that difference isn’t “two years,” though that certainly helps. The difference is in the time they’ve had to make a prolonged impact.

Alex Iwobi has had years. Several years. And in those several years we’ve seen ups and downs and we’ve come out pretty much where we started. We still have high hopes, but the end product is still drastically underwhelming.

Maitland-Niles is different. Maitland-Niles spent the past couple of years trying to work himself into a position where he could actually play consistently.

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Now he has that, but we’ve seen him for less than a full season. In that less-than full season, Maitland-Niles has gone from defensive liability with offensive upside to a crucial piece of the attack with surprising defensive upside.

There hasn’t been much up and down, there’s been mostly up, with the odd blip of down that you can chalk up as growing pains of a 21-year-old.

The thing with Maitland-Niles is that I can’t wait to see more. I can’t wait to see what he can do next. I love what he provides at wingback and, let me say it again, I can’t wait to see more. With Alex Iwobi, I wonder if I’m ever going to see more.

That’s why the answer that I gave for Iwobi is categorically different than the answer I give for Maitland-Niles. Sell Iwobi, he’s had his chance. Keep Maitland-Niles, he hasn’t. And in a highly competitive world where we need to move forward, not linger in the doldrum, that’s what you need to ask yourself – are you excited for what’s next? It’s a bit ruthless to distinguish this difference between two young, talented players, but it has to be done if we’re going to progress.

On the bright side, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is a tremendous asset and I am excited to see where he goes from here, where he takes his talents next season. He is only going to get better.