Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports Football (14/10/20 at 7:25 pm) that ‘nothing seems to faze’ Arsenal defender Ainsley-Maitland Niles.
The TV pundit thinks that the Arsenal academy product, who has mainly been used as a fullback for both club and country, wants to play in the middle of the park instead.
Maitland-Niles made his first start for England on Wednesday night as a left-sided wing-back, but he was substituted in the first-half after Harry Maguire was sent off.
Before the game, Redknapp shared that he loves the style in which Maitland-Niles plays in and believes he has the qualities to play in midfield.
“You don’t want to be known as a utility player, I suppose,” Redknapp told Sky Sports. “I think he is a really cool young man, this guy. I love the way he has got confidence, even when he takes penalties. Nothing seems to faze him.
“If you asked him ‘where would you want to play?’ My guess would be that he would like to be a central midfield player, where he can see the bigger picture.
“When I watch him play, I can see it. He has got a good physical presence. He can get into the box and he can score goals. He’s quick and he can defend. That’s where I think he would like to play.”
It could be argued that Maitland-Niles has perhaps been Arsenal’s best defensive player ever since Mikel Arteta walked through the doors back in December.
And even though he has been one of Arsenal’s better players at the back, he hasn’t exactly been a regular.
But when it has comes to the big moments, the big games and trying to stop those big-name players then Maitland-Niles has been there, as he proved against Manchester City and Liverpool last season.
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