BBC Sport has recently reported that Newcastle United are set to rival Wolverhampton Wanderers in the race for Arsenal full-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles this summer. The English talent is expected to part ways with the Gunners which could open the door for the Magpies, along with Wolves and Everton, to land him during this summer transfer period (via BBC Sport).
Maitland-Niles’ Mounting Frustrations At The English Capital Last Season
It was a season of frustrations for the London-born player recently as he struggled to impress as a utility player under Mikel Arteta’s stewardship. He made 33 appearances for the Gunners in the previous campaign, netting one goal and providing two assists across all competitions.
Despite his lack of productivity in the decisive end of the pitch, Maitland-Niles has done well to put in a series of battling displays after averaging 1.9 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 1.4 clearances, 0.5 key passes and 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League last season. He even managed to distribute possession well going forward as evident from his pass completion rate of 81.9% in league football (stats via whoscored).
The 22-year-old is a young and hungry footballer who is eager to do well at the highest level. Thus, he will be a great fit for a club like Newcastle as Steve Bruce will be able to guarantee him regular playing minutes which might be enough to get the best out of him in the years to come.
What Will The English Dribbler Add To Steve Bruce’s Squad?
Maitland-Niles is one of the quickest players in the Gunners squad as he has got the pace to beat his marker out on the wide areas. He is a highly versatile dribbler as he can operate in multiple positions across the field. The English prospect has often been deployed as a right-back at Arsenal, but can also fill in as a right wing-back or operate as a central midfielder if required.
Recruiting Maitland-Niles This Summer: Wise Move For The Magpies?
At 22, Maitland-Niles is only going to better with each season as long as he gets regular first-team football at the top level. Newcastle can benefit from recruiting a new squad player to help them cope with injuries better in the coming seasons. The Arsenal outcast will significantly bolster the quality of the Magpies first-team.
Maitland-Niles is more than capable of securing a regular spot in Bruce’s starting XI and will provide some much-needed cover for both the right-back and central midfield positions at St. James’ Park in the upcoming campaign. His electric pace, coupled with his versatility to operate in multiple roles, make him a wise choice for the Tyneside giants to consider during this ongoing summer transfer window.
