Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal’s first-team regulars to ‘keep on their toes’ due to the threat of Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
The 20-year-old has featured in all three of Arsenal’s Europa League fixtures this season, while he also played 90 minutes in the win over Doncaster in the Carabao Cup in September.
Maitland-Niles is yet to secure a regular role for Arsenal’s Premier League games, although Wenger predicts that the midfielder’s time to shine is close.
‘The huge advantage of Maitland-Niles, and the disadvantage as well, is that he can play everywhere,’ said the Arsenal manager.
‘Sometimes when you’re a manager, you use the comfort of being able to get him to play wherever you need him to.
‘He can play on the flanks without any problem because he has pace, he’s an intelligent boy and I think he needs to add that little bit of extra force for 90 minutes. But he’s so comfortable on the ball, so quick, so good and can steal the ball too.
‘He can also play central midfield, but I must say that he’s close now to being a regular in the first team as well.
‘I would be on my toes if I was a regular player in the Arsenal first team.
‘His preferred position is central midfield and that’s where I believe he will end up.’
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