Ashley Cole has told Sky Sports that Ainsley Maitland-Niles had a problem at Arsenal in the sense that he was too versatile for his own good.
Maitland-Niles left Arsenal in January to join West Bromwich Albion on loan, and he has expressed a desire to play in central midfield.
At Arsenal, the England international was rotated around the pitch – and often was deployed at full-back by Mikel Arteta.
Maitland-Niles rarely got a run of games in the same position during his time with the North London club.
And Cole feels that the 23-year-old was actually hampered by his ability to cover in so many different positions.
“I think the problem he had was he was too versatile for his own good,” he said.
“There was so many players in the squad, that if you got an injury, he could play everywhere.
“It’s very important for players to nail down his spot and make that their own and he feels central midfield in his position.”
Maitland-Niles’s future at Arsenal is now very uncertain, heading into the summer transfer window.
While the Gunners do rate their academy graduate, it is difficult to see him returning to the Emirates Stadium and becoming a regular starter in central midfield.
And that could mean that the youngster seeks an alternative club in the summer, with Arsenal set for a clear out.
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