Ainsley Maitland-Niles is slowly turning into an Arsenal utility man and has recently warned Unai Emery that he is being played out of position.
The 22-year-old, who received a red card against Aston Villa last weekend, started out his Arsenal career as a winger in the academy before Arsene Wenger attempted to remodel him into a central midfielder.
He’s been filling in at right-back under Unai Emery for the injured Hector Bellerin since January, with the Spaniard now back in action.
Maitland-Niles recently appeared to state his wish to play in the middle of midfield for the Gunners, and according to The Athletic, England also only ever discuss the player as a midfielder.
So should Emery now be starting to use him solely as a midfielder?
Read Arsenal verdict
With Bellerin now back and Callum Chambers able to cover the Spaniard at right-back, we think Emery needs to hand Maitland-Niles the chance to impress in midfield.
He’d bring a much-needed injection of pace to the midfield and would put to good use the defensive experience he’s gathered over the last six months of action.
He’ll be wary that fellow youngsters Joe Willock and Matteo Guendouzi are starting to nail down the holding midfield role, but he’s obviously confident that he has the ability to budge one of his teammates out of their current spots.
If Emery decides to give the Englishman a chance in his preferred position, it could come in either the Carabao Cup or Europa League, and Maitland-Niles will need to take the opportunity to impress both the Arsenal boss and England officials if he is hoping for an international career.
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