Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal vs Sunderland: 4 players fighting to start in EFL Cup

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Calum Chambers of Arsenal indicates to the match officials that his shot had crossed the goal line, shortly after the goal was awarded during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Calum Chambers of Arsenal indicates to the match officials that his shot had crossed the goal line, shortly after the goal was awarded during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

3. Ainsley Maitland-Niles

A victim of Granit Xhaka.

Starting in the 1-0 win over Watford and putting in a man of the match display to boot, Ainsley Maitland-Niles has only played 37 minutes in the seven matches since and they all came in the game directly after away at Anfield.

In the six matches following that he’s been in the Premier League squad four times, with his most recent omission one of the more puzzling ones. Sambi was confirmed absent with COVID, something that should have boosted Maitland-Niles’ chances of inclusion, yet it was Chambers who came in instead. Where was he?

Arteta spoke after the match that Mari was the only other absentee through the virus, so you do have to wonder what has gone on behind the scenes to see such a sudden exile for the 24-year-old.

With Xhaka and Partey having played together across the previous four games, they will surely be due a rest and with Sambi’s absence it leaves the door wide open for Maitland-Niles to come into midfield, possibly next to Mohamed Elneny.

If he does play, it’ll either be with the aim of fighting his way back into the squads or to earn a contract elsewhere. The latter of those seems more likely as he has not had the minutes he was seemingly promised after his deadline day drama.

Continued on next page…

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