Ainsley Maitland-Niles performance in the 5-0 win over Southampton at the weekend caught the eye. It was mature and composed, and he looks like a young player who has a real chance to make it.
Via YouTuber Black Fusion1886, here’s a compilation of that performance:
Composed. A few minor niggles but overall a great performance. Have you got a Jeff video please?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAtho9cLC1w
A young Alex Song? Or is there a better comparison – Arteta?
Please don’t insult him. Song was one of the most brainless footballers we’ve had in recent history. He had all the physical attributes to be a top CDM and instead was more interested in bombing forward and personal glory.
Hence the ‘young Alex Song’.
Who was bought by Barcelona, that rubbish side.
Also it was a question, feel free to disagree and be constructive, who does he remind you of?
I wasn’t having a go at the initial comment, it wasn’t intended to be taken that seriously.
On the subject of Barca, they can afford to sign defensive players that can’t defend in that league, and even they’ve signed shit players.
On Ainsley, he reminds me more of Arteta than Song, very effecient in possession and looks like he reads the game fairly well. From a defensive POV, it wasn’t the best game to analyse him considering we didn’t have to defend much. I was always very impressed with him on the wing at youth level too.
Though interestingly, Wikipedia says that his role was deliberately changed:
2011–12 season
With the departure of Cesc Fàbregas to Barcelona, Song was now assigned to provide the assists for the club alongside Aaron Ramsey.
He should have stayed at CDM imo.
Impressive. Especially liked the defensive stuff
Great display from all 3 midfielders, but watching back I was shocked by the amount of space that Southampton allowed them. Huge contrast to the EFL Cup tie at the Emirates.