Why Arsenal boss will hand youngster a chance against Machester City

Unai Emery could be forced to start Ainsley Maitland-Niles at left-back in Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Manchester City.

The Gunners will be without Sead Kolasinac for 10 weeks after he suffered a knee injury during last Wednesday’s friendly clash against Chelsea.4

Nacho Monreal meanwhile returned for pre-season training last week following his post-World Cup break but a knock has ensured he has not been able to train alongside his teammates.

Speaking after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Lazio, Emery explained the Spaniard will not return to first-team training until Tuesday.

“He [Monreal] arrived with no big injuries, but his knee has a little problem. He is training every day but not with the team. He is doing the work alone with a physio, and running. We think maybe on Tuesday he can start with the team.”

With Monreal unlikely to recover in time for the visit of the champions next Sunday, Emery insists he will have no hesitation in naming 20-year-old Maitland-Niles to try and nullify City’s threat down the right.

“My confidence in all the players is great. If he is okay to play, Nacho, that’s perfect. But if he is not okay we can also have this chance with Ainsley.”

Maitland-Niles has played in a number of different positons since making his Gunners debut in 2014, filling it both left and right-back last season under Arsene Wenger.

Born in Goodmayes, London, Maitland-Niles is a product of Arsenal’s Hale End Academyhaving joined the club at the age of 6. Maitland-Niles made the step up to Arsenal’s U21s during the 2013–14 season, having broken into the U18 set up the season before. He signed his first professional contract with Arsenal on 24 October 2014.

On 9 December 2014, Maitland-Niles made his professional debut at the age of 17 years and 102 days in a UEFA Champions League match against Galatasaray, replacing Aaron Ramsey at half time in an eventual 3-0 win for Arsenal. In doing so he became the second youngest player to have represented Arsenal in the Champions League, behind Jack Wilshere. Four days later, he made his Premier League debut, replacing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in added time in a 4–1 win against Newcastle United.

On his return to Arsenal the following season, Maitland-Niles started a match away at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup at right-back. Maitland-Niles again started at centre midfield against Southampton in an FA Cup fourth-round game in an eventual 5–0 win for Arsenal.  He came on in the 74th minute as Arsenal was victorious by a 2-0 margin against Sutton United in the fifth round of the cup.

On 12 June 2018 he signed a long term contract at Arsenal.

Maitland-Niles has played for England at various levels within the youth setup of the Three Lions. He made three appearances for England U17 in 2014.

He was then called up by England U18 in November 2014 and scored on his debut, in a 3-2 win over Poland U18. He went on to make four appearance for the England U18 side.

In September 2015, Maitland-Niles was called up by England U19  and scored on his England U19 debut, in a 3-2 win over Germany U19 on 4 September 2015. He scored again the following month, in a 2-0 win over Macedonia U19. He was then included in the England U19 squad for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship that saw them reached the semi-final of the tournament.

On 1 September 2016, Maitland-Niles scored on his England U20 debut, in a 1-1 draw against Brazil U20. In May 2017 he was called up to England’s squad for the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup in South Korea. England eventually got to the final of the tournament where they were up against Venezuela. Maitland-Niles, who came on in the 75th minute of play, went on to victoriously raise the 2017 U20 World Cup as England beat Venezuela by a 1-0 margin. This triumph also served to be the first time that England have ever won the Under 20 World Cup