This summer, with most fans pre-occupied by the excitement and fear surrounding the comings and goings of established first teamers, it’s easy to forget those players who are trying to create a foothold for themselves at the top level.
Loans
With this in mind, it was sensible to send him on loan to Ispwich Town for the 2015/16 season, where he was immediately thrust into the first team and given the number 7 shirt, being mostly employed on the right flank by Mick McCarthy. Following the first few fixtures, and a couple of man of the match awards, McCarthy was enthusiastic.
“He’s an outstanding player…if he doesn’t end up being outstanding for Arsenal I’ll be very surprised. Thanks to Arsene (Wenger) for lending him to us because he’s done us a right turn.”
His excellent start continued, winning the club’s September ‘Player of the Month’ award, but eventually the toll of an unusually heavy schedule for an 18 year old began to tell, and his form tailed off after Christmas.
He wasn’t helped by a few minor injuries and the return to fitness of more established players as Ipswich chased the playoffs, and subsequently McCarthy’s stated desire to plan for the following season once the playoffs were missed. Worse still was the impact of his aforementioned mother leaving “a lengthy…abusive and threatening… expletive-ridden voicemail” on McCarthy’s phone when the manager wouldn’t let him attend the England kit launch the FA had requested him for. Maitlind-Niles was immediately dropped, and barely got a sniff after that, as others took their opportunities.
That said, he still chalked up 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice and creating a fair amount of chances for team-mates with his quality crossing and driving runs. Reflecting on his time in Sussex upon return to Arsenal, his attitude was characteristically mature.
“It was a great confidence boost, that’s for sure.It started very, very brightly. I didn’t get to play as much as I wanted to at the end of the season but I still got to play regularly in the Championship so I can’t be sad about it. It changed the way that I’m thinking now, and I’ve grown up as a person and a player too. Football can be ruthless so you’ve got to learn to be a man quickly.
“You don’t see a lot of 17 or 18-year-olds playing week in, week out in the Premier League so you have to grow up fast and take things as they come. You can’t moan about things because they’re not going your way – you’ve got to find a way to change it.”
“Mick McCarthy was very old school and liked to play a certain, direct way like most teams in the Championship, but he also maintained a very high standard. If you weren’t up to that standard, you were out of the team, regardless of who you were. In that sense, playing Under-23s is really different to first-team football. Now, it’s about me using that experience, applying it to under-23 football, and also sharing those experiences with team-mates. It’s now my responsibility to show them what’s right from wrong and help them push on in their careers.”
His maturity and focus is also self evident in his recent interview with Arsenal.com’s video team, even if it does also display his naturally quiet nature.