Arsenal: Cedric Soares signing beckon Ainsley Maitland-Niles shift?

Arsenal are set to sign full-back Cedric Soares on a six-month loan. Does his impending arrival beckon a positional shift for Ainsley Maitland-Niles?

Mikel Arteta’s adaptation of Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been one of the most impressive elements of his Arsenal management thus far. The 22-year-old did not see himself as a full-back. By his profession, he believed he was a midfielder, either centrally or out wide. But due to Hector Bellerin’s extended injury problems, Arteta had to adapt, and he turned to Maitland-Niles in a hybrid right-back role to do so.

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Using Maitland-Niles’ natural comfort in central areas of the pitch with excellent close control, composure on the ball, and spatial awareness and anticipation, Arteta asked Maitland-Niles to play as a right-back when defending, a role that he has the athletic profile and defensive capabilities to fulfil, and then move into ‘central midfield’ when the team is in safe possession to form a 2-3-5 shape alongside the holding defensive midfielders.

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Maitland-Niles’ excelled in this pseudo-right-back role. His play in possession was excellent, often used as the primary passer to break out of the high press, while he showed terrific focus and concentration when defending, an element of his game that has been criticised in the past.

But with Bellerin always set to return to the starting XI, it felt like the Maitland-Niles experiment was a temporary solution to an immediate problem, not a long-term tactical wrinkle that Arteta was looking to install. And now that suggestion seems even more accurate.

This week, reports have surfaced that Arsenal are nearing the six-month loan signing of Southampton right-back Cedric Soares. In fact, this week, Southampton head coach Ralph Hassenhuttl confirmed that Cedric would be leaving the club:

"“From our side, yes. The fact is that he’s out of contract in the summer. Sometimes things change quickly in football. Then for the club and for him, it is the best that we say ‘okay, if you want to leave, you have only two or three more months (of) contract, then it’s better to go’ and we are concentrating on developing other players.”"

Cedric offers depth at both right-back and left-back. While his signing seems a little curious, there is enough reason to think his acquisition is not an entirely foolish one. But his arrival certainly implies that Arteta does not view Maitland-Niles as a right-back. If Arteta did see Maitland-Niles as a right-back and not a midfielder, there would be no reason to sign Cedric. With Maitland-Niles and Bellerin, the Arsenal manager has two very capable options that he can rotate between. So why sign Cedric?

Well, perhaps Arteta has a different plan for Maitland-Niles, one that might involve a positional return to central midfield. Maitland-Niles has always protested that central midfield is his best and most natural position, even if he has very rarely been used there, and maybe Arteta agrees with him. Certainly, the signing of Cedric and Maitland-Niles’ comfort in central midfield-type areas of the pitch suggest that could be the case.

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Because of his athletic profile, technical skill and positional intelligence, it is difficult to know where Maitland-Niles’ best position truly is. He is capable in so many roles; a jack of all trades, a master of none. But perhaps Arteta believes that he is truly a central midfielder. I guess, as always, time will tell.

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