Possible right wing back cover if Chamberlain goes and a starting berth for our 3rd / 4th round League Cup games before we get knocked again (see last year), don’t see much else from AMN particularly.
If he isn’t loaned then Europa League could be some decent ‘shop window’ minutes for him this season plus one or two others. Seems we’re being more proactive in offloading our talent early so the stick arounds like AMN aren’t necessarily in the right place
While Mertesacker is training to be academy head next season, we should give him the interim job of ‘Filler in of Maitland-Niles name where Wenger puts Coquelin’. Any time Wenger has the urge to use Coquelin, whether it’s putting him on the bench or in a XI, Mertesacker should be there to help him resist his strange, SM desires and fill Maitland-Niles name in instead.
Agile, always offers for the ball, good positionally, doesn’t go in stupidly, plays simple, sensible passes. There’s a lot to like with him as a defensive midfielder/destroyer alongside a more creative deep lying playmaker.
Since the loan spell under Mick McCarthy @ Ipswich I’ve liked Maitland-Niles. Mostly because of the attributes AC listed but at youth level he’s also both a capable destroyer & ball carrier. Whether that translates to senior level probably depends on how his physique develops over the next season or two but the potential to be a better footballing version of Coquelin is there imo.