Arsenal: How good can Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ problem be?

Ainsley Maitland-Nile was a veritable star against Newcastle, so what exactly do Arsenal do when Hector Belleri gets back, and is this problem still good?

Arsenal had a clear stalwart against Newcastle, and it was Ainsley Maitland-Niles. For once (or twice), the numbers actually back it up as well. Aside from notching a beautiful assist that won us the game, Maitland-Niles also lead the team in dribbles, tackles and interceptions.

Which translates to: He did the offensive thing we need the most (dribbled) and defended better than we might have expected him too. And his play on the pitch said the exact same thing. He found so much joy on that right hand side and was rarely, if ever, made to look out of place.

Maitland-Niles issued a challenge to Hector Bellerin last year, staking a claim to the rightback position and essentially daring Bellerin to come take it from him. Obviously Bellerin hasn’t had that chance yet but… when he does, what happens?

Internal competition is rarely ever a bad thing. Although, I would say that having to fit Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a one striker set may be an exception to the rule.

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Bellerin is due back soon, and given his skill level and the vast improvements we saw in the little time that were were able to enjoy his presence last year, I’d say that he should be given a high priority on a return to the starting XI.

But that’s not easy to facilitate with Maitland-Niles sprinting out of the box to assert himself as a must-have in that same starting XI that Bellerin wants to get into and at the same position as well. Will they both improve because of this? Probably. But if they count as two of our best players, is there any way to get them both into the starting XI?

Simply put, no.

But it could get more complex than that, if we want. For instance, does Maitland-Niles still want to play central midfield? Not that it will be any easier (Granit Xhaka, y’know?), but his versatility may be a boon or a curse when Bellerin returns, depending on how it works out.

Honestly, I’m not sure what will happen. Knowing Unai Emery, Bellerin will have to earn his spot, but what if Maitland-Niles stems off the threats indefinitely? Do we accept that he is only a midweek guy? Because that doesn’t seem right either. Guess we just wait and see.