Allardyce gives Maitland-Niles surprising parting advice

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Allardyce gives Maitland-Niles surprising parting advice

Ainsley Maitland-Niles will be with Arsenal in less than a week - and his current manager Sam Allardyce believes that the midfielder should embrace his utility player status - for the time being at least.

"Ainsley’s given us everything he has got," Allardyce was quoted by Arseblog as saying. "He came to join the fight – you have to admire that – he knew my idea was to play him where he wanted to play and where he’s always wanted to play – in midfield.

"Arsenal have got many talented midfield players. I can see why it’s been difficult for him. It’s very competitive in there.

"That’s why he’s been played more as a full-back. If I were him, I’d play wherever the manager picked me, and I’d never turn it down because if you are able to play in a number of positions, then you are going to get more games than if you had one position and one position only.

"Perhaps you don’t want to be tagged as a utility player but sometimes those people are played more often than those who are stubborn and say, 'I want to play in that position and nowhere else'."

Ains joined West Brom in January, with the aim to play regularly in his favoured midfield position. Which he did - but West Brom still went down to the Championship.

Funnily enough, central midfield at Arsenal will likely be a really empty place this summer, as Torreira, Guendouzi and Ceballos are almost nailed-on to leave, while Elneny and Xhaka might follow suit.

However, right-back's place will also be up for grabs, with Bellerin staring at the exit door and Cedric badly out of favour. Niles might yet have a chance at Arsenal. Go figure.

AuthorAlex BaguzinSourcevia Arseblog
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