Arsenal: Put a fork in Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Arsenal missed another opportunity to give Ainsley Maitland-Niles a fair shake, and at this point, it’s safe to say that you can put a fork in him.

Arsenal‘s lineup against Porstmouth was bad enough for Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Starting at rightback was Sokratis, not Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Rounding off the midfield three were Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, and Joe Willock. Also not Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

In the attack? Reiss Nelson. Gabriel Martinelli. Also distinctly no Ainsley Maitland-Niles. He’s been completely absent since Mikel Arteta took over, through all competitions. His sole appearance was coming on for an injured Sokratis (who had again started at rightback) in the first leg against Oympiakos.

Not long after, Arteta made some semi-veiled comments about players adapting and playing positions that aren’t their primary positions. He alluded to Bukayo Saka.

The FA Cup is the perfect place for Maitland-Niles to get back into the flow. There was literally no reason for him not to play. But the starting XI was just the start of the problems for the young Englishman.

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Not long into the match, Lucas Torreira had to be stretchered off the pitch. The midfield had an opening that Maitland-Niles would have loved to slip into. Instead, Mikel Arteta called on Dani Ceballos and Maitland-Niles was left seated in the back row, looking covetously at Ceballos receiving his instructions.

The next substitution didn’t come until the 86th minute. Joe Willock was called off the pitch. Again, another opening in the midfield, and with only Granit Xhaka or Maitland-Niles to choose from, Arteta chose… Xhaka. Even the commentators were baffled by this one. What’s the point?

Maitland-Niles finally got his introduction as regular time ran up. He came on for Reiss Nelson to play right wing.

Maitland-Niles didn’t touch the ball once.

I’m thrilled with the result. I’m happy for so many things. But at this point, what hope is there that Maitland-Niles will stay around? Literally zero. This match was an insult to him. I can say that without a doubt. I hate to say that it’s over with so much time left to go in the season, but how can it be anything else?

I want to believe that there’s a way back for him. I want to believe that there’s still time for Mikel Arteta to have one of those miracle conversations, like the one he had with Granit Xhaka. But it’s been a while now, and it sure as hell didn’t take Arteta this long to win Xhaka back over.