Speaking on the Wrighty’s House podcast, Ian Wright has called for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to get a chance in the midfield for Arsenal against Tottenham in this weekend’s north London derby.
The England international has started just two Premier League games so far this term, and according to Transfermarkt, he’s played in midfield just once this term.
However, in order to counteract the threats posed by the energetic Tottenham midfield, Wright says that Maitland-Niles has to play in the middle of the park.
“We need energy and legs
“I’m thinking, as much as I thought Joe Willock did as well as he could do in the second half, Reiss Nelson the same, we’re going to need someone like Ainsley Maitland-Niles,” Wright said.
The ex-Gunners star went on to talk about the London club’s other midfield options, and he believes that the pairing of Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka simply wouldn’t work against their rivals.
“If it’s Ceballos and Xhaka, that’s kind of been his go-to two players that he’s using at the moment, that is not enough, nowhere near, I think that they need more of someone like Ainsley’s physicality to deal with what is going to be going on in that midfield.”
We can certainly understand Wright’s point of view here.
For all the credit Spurs’ attackers have gotten this season, it can sometimes fly under the radar that their midfield has been doing sublime job as well.
Tanguy Ndombele looks like a man reborn, while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has earnt so many plaudits from pundits.
Their midfield isn’t easy to deal with, and if Arsenal don’t have a man who is willing to put in the hard yards, they could easily be overrun.
Unfortunately, Thomas Partey is out of action, so Wright may be correct in saying that Maitland-Niles is the man who should start in the middle for Arsenal.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
