OPINION
Arsenal really came out and took the game to Manchester United in the forts half of their battle for the top four on Sunday afternoon. The Gunners looked spritely and dangerous from the outset, but for all of their early success, and the flukey Granit Xhaka goal that gave them the lead, Unai Emery’s side still looked a little shaky. One player in particular who looked out of his depth was Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The wide man was called back into the team at right wing-back, covering for the long term absent Hector Bellerin. For most of the first half, however, he looked vulnerable against the driving runs of Luke Shaw, and his decision making left an awful lot to be desired. Whether he was rusty having been in and out of the side for such a long time, or whether he is still adjusting to a more defensive position than the one he has traditionally played, he didn’t look comfortable, and it could be a worry for Arsenal in the future. In the mean time, the hopes will be that he doesn’t do any damage before a more long term solution can be found in the absence of their first choice option.
This is Futbol have gathered some of the best tweets below:
maitland-niles dropping a solid 1/10 so far.
— Olz (@oli_netherlands) March 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/_TerryChukwu/status/1104792593270034436
Maitland Niles plays nonchalantly all the time. Wtf
— Oluwole (@Olu_Jumob) March 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/IxJayJayxI/status/1104784624088166401
Can somebody get Maitland Niles out of this team?
— Kizo (@i_am_capello) March 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/Samsports094/status/1104784221384724481
https://twitter.com/alex_darby98/status/1104787134181986304
Maitland-Niles is making all the wrong decisions
— Ojogbon 'Dekunle (@DekunleOjogbon) March 10, 2019