How Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles would fit in at West Brom

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 11:26 BST
• 3 min read

Several Premier League teams, as well as some from overseas, have been linked with a loan move for Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles this January.

One of the sides heavily touted to make a move for the 23-year-old is West Brom, according to Sky Sports.

The versatile Gunners academy graduate has only started five Premier League games so far this season and is desperate for more first-team action in order to secure his place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro’s squad.

Maitland-Niles made his international debut in 2020 after impressing with his boyhood club, but he knows Southgate won’t select him unless he’s playing on a regular basis. The Baggies are currently stuck in the relegation zone and are in desperate need of some added quality in their fight for Premier League survival, so it could be a perfect match.

Although it’s believed that the youngster eventually wants to establish himself in the centre of the pitch, he has often been used on the flanks, either as a wing-back or a more conventional winger.

Jake Livermore is the holding midfielder that brings the stability to this West Brom team, while Romaine Sawyers has done a good job alongside him, helping the Baggies tick over. Therefore, the Arsenal man may find himself out wide once again.

With Robert Snodgrass arriving at the Hawthorns from West Ham earlier in the window, it’s likely we’ll see Maitland-Niles on the left-hand side, should he make the switch to the Midlands.

Former Hull City man Kamil Grosicki has only featured three times in the Premier League this season, while summer-signing Grady Diangana has been left out of the last three matchday squads after scoring just once and providing no assists all season.

It may not be where Maitland-Niles sees his long-term future, but for now, it could be a logical solution to West Brom’s dire situation and his England squad ambitions.

This is how the Baggies could line up if they do secure the Arsenal man’s signature.