Arsenal Wing-Back Maitland-Niles Urged To Emulate Victor Moses

Published: March 16, 2019

England U20 World Cup-winning midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been urged to emulate Victor Moses by making the Arsenal right wing-back position his own.

Maitland-Niles is predominantly a central midfielder but has been deployed as a right wing-back and fullback by Gunners manager Unai Emery for most part of this season.

Former Arsenal defender Rhys Weston reckons Maitland-Niles can be a key player for Arsenal, just as Victor Moses was for Chelsea when they won the Premier League title in the 2016-2017 season after he was asked to fill in as a right wing-back by manager Antonio Conte.

''The frustrating thing is, as a young lad trying to make your way, you don’t always get given the opportunity but he’s got an opportunity now with the unfortunate circumstances with Hector Bellerin being out long-term,'' said Weston to Ian Stone's Comedy Breakfast.

He added : ''I think wing-back suits him. If you asked him he’d rather play in the holding midfield position but he and Kolasinac are far better when they have got space in front of them.

''It’s a bit like when Victor Moses was converted to a wing-back under Conte at Chelsea, his whole game changed and the whole dynamic changed.''

Moses found himself out of favour in the first half of the season under Maurizio Sarri, who switched to a back four after he was appointed Chelsea coach and the Nigerian had to change his position.

Igho Kingsley

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