Arsenal: 3 negatives from vital Norwich Premier League win

Arsenal: 3 negatives from vital Norwich victory

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the sidelines during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Norwich City at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 11, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 11: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal battles for possession with Pierre Lees Melou of Norwich City during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Norwich City at Emirates Stadium on September 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) /

3. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is Not a Reliable Midfield Option

Watching Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Albert Sambi Lokonga alongisde one another, there was a clear difference in quality.

The Belgian had a fine afternoon in the centre of the park as he mopped up and dished up in equal measure, while Maitland-Niles is running out of opportunities to prove that he can be an option to call in that department.

He is a wing-back. He isn’t a midfielder.

Could he be a serviceable option for a club not chasing Europe? Quite possibly. Without setting the world alight at West Brom he still did a competent enough job as a No. 8.

However, he lacks the tools, awareness and intensity to play in an Arsenal midfield. Far too often he’s casual on and off the ball and his distribution regularly falls into the miss category more than the hit one.

Switching to right-back in the second half as Thomas Partey entered the fray, being the Rolls Royce midfielder that he is, turned the tide of the game. Maitland-Niles will never be Partey levels, of course, but he looked so far of Sambi’s levels, which is fairly conclusive.

His chances are running out.

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