Ainsley Maitland-Niles: Page 14 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Meatwad

Ricky1985 wrote:
Whatever the graph says, Tierney is a far, far better defender, in every way, than Bellerin and Maitland-Niles.

And "Trent" (eurgh) Alexander-Arnold is pretty much an imbecile when it comes to defending. Iwobi gave him a roasting every time we faced Liverpool. Arnold's a bit like the football equivalent of a so called "idiot savant" overall: he can't tie his shoe laces or be trusted around sharp objects - his defending, but can recite pi to a thousand digits or tell you which day of the week you born - his attacking.

iwobi hasn't been an arsenal player for 2 seasons now. so it's impossible for a then 19/20 year old TAA to improve?

Ricky1985

I haven't watched much football this season, are you saying he has? I doubt it very much. It's similar to the way many said that man Iwobi would develop his goalscoring or Bellerin would improve his final ball - big changes technically and tactically don't happen often, and Arnold is 23 this year. He just isn't a very smart footballer when he doesn't have the ball at his feet. To say the least.

jones

Ricky1985 wrote:
I haven't watched much football this season, are you saying he has? I doubt it very much. It's similar to the way many said that man Iwobi would develop his goalscoring or Bellerin would improve his final ball - big changes technically and tactically don't happen often, and Arnold is 23 this year. He just isn't a very smart footballer when he doesn't have the ball at his feet. To say the least.

I don't think I agree with the overall notion that big changes don't happen often, players develop understanding, finishing ability etc. at very different points in their careers. But TAA from my limited viewing doesn't seem to have improved much as a defender, in fact he was mainly at fault for their loss yesterday because he jumped past the ball like a fucking idiot.

ohboy

Yeah, TAA has been roasted by many this season. Jack Harrison gave him such a going over in Leeds opener, myself and a couple friends were actually doubled over with laughter. Absolutely slaughtered.

Maitland Niles could be whatever he wants, he has the talent. The issue is, he wants to be a midfielder, and until he is given a real chance to sink or swim there, I don't think he will commit to a position anywhere else.

Anzac

ohboy!!! wrote:
Yeah, TAA has been roasted by many this season. Jack Harrison gave him such a going over in Leeds opener, myself and a couple friends were actually doubled over with laughter. Absolutely slaughtered.

Maitland Niles could be whatever he wants, he has the talent. The issue is, he wants to be a midfielder, and until he is given a real chance to sink or swim there, I don't think he will commit to a position anywhere else.

I'd use him to replace Elneny in the squad as it stands - Cedric can cover both FB positions if needs be.

flobaba

on Ainsley Maitland Niles…
He needs to compete for his place like everybody else. There have been a lot of players who have been left out of the squad and they have less minutes. Ainsley has played some minutes in the league, he’s played a lot of minutes in the Europa League. He’s played in the Emirates FA Cup, he’s played semi-finals and finals for us so it’s about him, his performances and how much he wants to be in the team.

Arteta’s post match comments.

For me, it’s clear that his performances aren’t consistent, and it’s concerning that Arteta references his desire.

If he doesn’t improve his attitude and find consistent form in the next few months, I think he’s on the chopping block.

Anzac

flobaba wrote:

on Ainsley Maitland Niles…
He needs to compete for his place like everybody else. There have been a lot of players who have been left out of the squad and they have less minutes. Ainsley has played some minutes in the league, he’s played a lot of minutes in the Europa League. He’s played in the Emirates FA Cup, he’s played semi-finals and finals for us so it’s about him, his performances and how much he wants to be in the team.

Arteta’s post match comments.

For me, it’s clear that his performances aren’t consistent, and it’s concerning that Arteta references his desire.

If he doesn’t improve his attitude and find consistent form in the next few months, I think he’s on the chopping block.

IIRC there was a comment about the time of the Palace game suggestion he had declined a transfer offer this window.

JazzG

Such a shame it didn't work out. Thought he would be our RB for years to come.

KingslandBarge

Key part of that FA cup and Community shield. Thanks to Ainsley, all the best to him. He seems to have been destined from the start to go against the grain and walk a difficult, potentially harder career path. Interested to see how it goes for him, positionally and generally.

Clrnc

So misguided. All the talent is there. Ball playing skills and technical ability probably better than White at RB too. Exactly what Arteta needs for a hybrid.

Yet he's now free and probably will go to a championship or somewhere like Luton

RocktheCasbah

Clrnc I feel a bit like that, the only thing I'd say is I think Benny White White White has a defensive focus to his game that Ainsley doesn't. And I think maybe you can learn it to a degree, but a midfielder is instinctively going to think like a midfielder not a defender.

RocktheCasbah

Just watched his goodbye video, feel like this is probably an accurate summation of his likely career trajectory

Clrnc Yet he's now free and probably will go to a championship or somewhere like Luton

such a shame imo.

goon

I think the moment we stopped playing with wing backs he was done. Not good enough defensively or going forward as a full back, and certainly not as a midfielder.

Claudius

goon I don’t think it’s about position. It’s about talent and application. That’s what killed this kid. See how Arteta is flexible with the players he trusts. Saka and Martinelli have played all over. Trossard, Jesus, Xhaka and White have also moved around. I wouldn’t be surprised if White or Saliba, for example started playing DM type roles in a 3 at the back system as needed.

Our player needs are very clear. Those who can’t cut it, can get out quickly.

HomeSteak

Still remember when his mom used to shout obscenities to the youth coaches during games. Only 25, strange he did not find a new contract by now.

Coombs

It's no more than he deserves, really.

Doc

yeah. could of had a decent career if he didn't have a schoolboy mentality

Mirth

Waste of talent

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Remember in an FA Cup game away at Soton in 2017 he played DM and was awesome.

Thought we were going to have a monster midfielder on our hands.

RocktheCasbah

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert I remember that game. I didn't see it, but it was the last conversation I ever had with my granddad, who was in hospital. I didn't know it would be at the time, so that was good but it was great to be able to tell him we were 4-0 up.

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