Arsene Wenger says that life outside the cosy environment of the Arsenal academy is important for young players, and that a loan spell at Ipswich was an eye-opener for Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
The 20 year old, who has started the last two Premier League games at left back, spent the 2015-16 season at Portman Road, and the Arsenal manager believes that regular, competitive football and training toughened him up.
Speaking to the official site, Wenger said, “You know well the infrastructure here. It’s super-developed and maybe sometimes people are overprotected in a competitive world. A competitive world is a rough world, it’s a world where you need to fight against internal opposition and as well outside competition.
“Sometimes when they go to the Championship, you can be tempted to think ‘I’m at Arsenal, so I’ll always be good somewhere else’. You go to the Championship and realise that good players are everywhere.
“You have to add the fighting to your qualities and that’s what he means with maturing there. He realised that in the Championship it’s very difficult and in every game you have to be ready for a fight.”
The England youth international played much of that season as a winger, but even though Wenger sees him as a defensive midfielder, he’s been given his chance in a relatively unfamiliar position.
And the Frenchman sees him as intelligent enough to stake his claim there, even if it is only going to be short-term.
“The fact that I used him in defensive positions maybe made him realise that there’s no opening where he dreams to play but there could be an opening where he doesn’t dream to play,” he said.
“Of course the challenge is to continue to develop, to continue to improve. He has a lot to do but when you get a chance in life, take it.
“That’s what you want from him now.”
It certainly sounds like he’s prepared to give him that chance, and it’s interesting now to look back on what Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy had to say about Maitland-Niles back in August 2015 when his loan spell was just beginning.
“The talent of him!,” said the former Ireland boss. “I think he’s going to play for Arsenal, there’s no doubt in my mind.
“We are just so lucky to have him.”
AMN- The future.
The future seems bright fit for the kid. IMO is yet to take the wrong foot since joining the first team.
#COYG2THEFUTURE.
Read it three times and Im still not sure what has just happened. “The fact that I used him in defensive positions maybe made him realise that there’s no opening where he dreams to play but there could be an opening where he doesn’t dream to play,”
The way I read it, Wenger is saying AMN would “dream” of playing in another position but at the moment, there are no first team opportunities for him to get game time in his preferred position. There are however opportunities to play as a fullback, and AMN is willing to do a job and show he can fight for the team. We all know Arsene loves development of this kind! The kid seems to know what he’s doing and as things stand, his flexibility and commitment are paying dividends. Perhaps–as Blogs and other have said–we could reward him with a… Read more »
Well exactly, if there are no openings in the center of the park then where are they? Thats clearly our weakest spot at the moment.
Well if mick Mccarthy can see it how can wenger ignore it!
On a more serious note, these (wengers) comments seem to be praising the loaning of players to championship clubs rather than amn himself.
Regardless he seems to have all the attributes needed to establish himself.
I think we need to get the balance right with Ainsley. He has to play at CM sometimes because before we know it Wenger will just start calling him a full back. He used to always say that he’ll be a DM but he’s a lot more quiet about that now.
Agreed, I’m excited but cautious about this. Wouldn’t be the first time Wenger has done this; big up the future position of a particular player, but still stick them in another position for “development” purposes, only for a few bad experiences to damage the confidence of the player, either that or he just does so well that Wenger just calls him a LB permanently. I mean, it’s not like we don’t have other LB option. We have 2 top class LBs. Meanwhile DM is occupied by a player clearly not fit for DM, and 2 other DMs out of favour… Read more »
His loan at Ipswich did go well for both him and the club, but I’m a bit surprised they haven’t taken any more of our youngsters on loan since AMN.
Its probably more of a combination of the club, and a manager who will have faith in the players. Birmingham City was once a successful loan destination for our younger players (Bendtner, Larsson, Muamba) under Steve Bruce.
Jon Toral had a brilliant loan there, ending up as their player of the season (and was treated pretty poorly afterwards by Wenger)
Recently however, Redknapp brought in Jenkinson and Bramall only to get sacked and they were both bombed out
Why is he treated pretty poorly?
Just maybe he isn’t good enough? Not everyone is good enough to be given a chance or to make it.
Keep your head up, AMN. The sky is your limit.
I wonder is it just a case of wenger not interested in getting specialist players for certain positions. in days gone past he would only play the odd player out of position until he decided they were ready. It seems in recent years he has played many players all over the pitch out of their preferred positions but it’s hard to see the gains if any. I would love to see AMN play a game here and there in his dream position just to see if it’s likely he might be an exception from the norm, he certainly wouldn’t embarrass… Read more »
Wenger has always done this.
Henry
Flamini
Van Persie
Fabregas
Diaby
Eboue
Toure
Song
Nasri
Walcott
Djourou
and many more.
I do agree that in recent years, I’ve yet to see the benefit.
Ten yesterday of PL haven’t toughened Theo but I want him in games because he knows where the goal is.