Ainsley Maitland-Niles has had a breakthrough season at Arsenal, making 23 appearances so far this campaign and establishing himself firmly as a member of the first team squad.
As you might expect he’s thankful to Arsene Wenger for giving him the chance to play, but says advice from the manager has helped him get ready for the step up.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the 20 year old said, “I owe him a lot for believing in me and telling me I need to work on stuff before he has put me out there.
“I come in every day and try and work as hard as I can on the things I know I need to work hard on and the things that other people pull me up about to be the best that I can.
“Me personally, he’s a very trusting person. He has a lot of belief in his players and whenever you want to talk to him about something his door’s always open – you can always walk in.
“Especially on the training pitch, he does put his arm around you when he thinks, ‘Look, I need to get into this player and tell him in a nice way how he needs to improve on this and that’, and it gives you a lot of confidence that the boss believes in you.”
It has been a trying season for the Gunners, and the Frenchman is under the most intense scrutiny of his Arsenal reign, but Maitland-Niles believes the players have to shoulder some of the blame and do more to prevent the disappointing results.
“We should also take some of the blame because we are the ones on the pitch,” he said.
“He only picks the team, so that’s how far his judgement goes, but us on the pitch I think we need to take more responsibility and really fight and stand up for our club.”
“He only picks the team, so that’s how far his judgement goes, …”
Interesting quote. Supports the common opinion that Wenger doesn’t do much about tactics and let’s his players “express themselves.”
I read that as AW picks the squad to play and then it is up to them to preform. Which they haven’t done consistently for a while now
I read it more as the players should take more responsibility for performances instead of all the negativity the manager gets. I’m not sure he was commenting on the training, although I’m not denying it’s probably an issue. He seems like he rates Wenger so I doubt he’d suggest he’s not involved in the training.
We need a few decent midfielders to allow AMN to flourish and develop properly. Alot of potential, hopefully we don’t waste it.
Which is fine if you had intelligent players like Bergkamp and Viera to run the game or big centre backs like Adams and Campbell to yell at the fullbacks.
Against good teams we fall into utter panic once we lose the ball.
Pretty sure some of our staff are hired to help the manager with tactics and instructions to the players. So Wenger isnt entirely to blame on this (eventhough i dont believe that our players are badly instructed).
You should really be offering your services to a red top or clickbait site, you’ve taken that quote completely out of context – he’s clearly taking about players needing to take responsibility for the results not just the manager. It’s as if you haven’t even read the article
For all the criticism Arsene gets, and much of it is deserved; a young player always seems to breakthrough every season. Hector, Iwobi, AMN. Not mentioning Holding. Their development after their breakthrough is another kettle of fish though but young players in Arsenal can have a reachable dream of playing for the first team
Good words from the lad…..certainly one of the plus points this season…..looking forward to great things from him…….so composed for one so young
Watch him become the new Iwobi
Or the new Walcott
Or the new Oxlade Chamberlain
Or the new Gibbs
Or any other decent young player whose career Wenger has destroyed by failing to coach him properly
I have absolutely no confidence in anything to do with Arsenal.
I have even less confidence in the manager – 10 million a year and he sends players out with no tactics…
What a laughing stock…
Me2, please note that all the players you have mentioned became England internationals under Wenger and Iwobi a Nigerian international. Walcott scored over 100 goals for Arsenal before going to Everton so he can’t be that shabby and the OX was courted by Liverpool for over £30 million and is likely to go to the World Cup. Gibbs career was hampered by injuries and the form of Monreal but he still plays for a premiership team. May I suggest that you develop a bit of footballing nous before posting as you seem keen to embarrass yourself on this forum. I… Read more »
And England has won the world cup or came close? Ox 30mil and on Liverpool’s bench and likely to go to the world cup tells the whole story of the three lions. Gibbs has played more games in one single season with Westham than his entire career at Arsenal. My exaggeration is for effect purposes to show that Arsene mismanaged him. Walcott, scored 100 goals and yet remained a sqaud player under Arsene. Iwobi is the same as Walcott, good, yet stagnates. Cannon fodder, it you who should cannon your footballing nous. And I agree with the notion that the… Read more »
Or watch him become the new Cesc. Or Cole. Or Henry (yes, I know he wasn’t an Arsenal youth product but he became the legend he was at Arsenal)…
What a laughing stock.
You are.
Just to remind you that Iwobi is still only 21. I really don’t understand all the negativity surrounding him, he’s still so young and he’s one of our own – maybe if you did your role and actually supported him as a fan he might actually develop into the player we hope he will be?
At a far lesser age, Mbappe, is already setting the world alight. Rambo,answer this. Why is that he performs well with the Nigerian team than Arsenal. Nobody is arguing about Iwobi’s potential, we are only of the view that Arsene has not tapped it well. He comes from the wings for Nigeria and he is very pacy. However, 21year olds abound who are word beaters already.
AMN sounds mature and down to earth for his age. Looking forward to seeing him develop further.
Yes, its time for a change. And yes, it seems like he’s not improving players as he once used to.
Regardless, I’m sure most of us continue to admire the man. The fundamental decency in his approach and the respect & trust he shows his players is brilliant in any sphere of life – even more so in the high-pressure cauldron of sport in such trying times.
You’ll be missed, Arsene!
We are not in diplomatic relations here, my friend. If Wenger wants to show decency and respect,he should go become a diplomat. We are are in A football war man; Arsenal is losing its pride of place. Why don’t you get this into your greasy hair.
Its utter rubbish some of these people who criticise Wenger for not being able to develop players or buy quality. The same people will then laud say Koscielny or Santi whom Wenger (and Dick Law) bought for a comparative bargain. Or one day laud Ozil the next they call him a “panic buy’ (42.3m for a manager allergic to spending…sure) As far as devlopment is concern, we have had Bellerin and Iwobi (who is still young and will improve further)come through the ranks. Nelson is looking sharp. Maitland Niles. I’m not sure what some of these critics of Wenger have… Read more »
After working with real men over the years like Henry, Bergkamp, Adams, Vieira i think Wenger is struggling like a lot of workforces with the new generation of millennials who can’t put on their training bibs without having meltdowns.
Says the person commenting on an article on a very niche website. I don’t understand how people dislike younger generations just because “they aren’t built like the people I know”. It’s just another form of segregation and perceived elitism
I’ve got to say what impressive comments are in this thread; hardly any toys out of the pram comments and thought out, rational arguments. Very unusual for Gooner of late, I’ve read Arseblog informally over the years but the readers have made it my go to place for Arsenal news. Nice one.