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Arsenal’s loan stars have made quite an impression with their respective clubs, often stealing the headlights from their first team counterparts. This time it is young Ainsley Maitland-Niles who is making waves for his new club Ipswich, earning special praise from manager Mick McCarthy.
Niles recorded his first assist for the club, setting up the winner against Burnley on Tuesday night, and McCarthy was beaming with approval. As reported by ESPN, McCarthy said he believes Niles will go on to become a crucial player for Arsenal in the future and has tipped the player for future stardom.
“Wow. The talent of him; I think he’s going to play for Arsenal, there’s no doubt in my mind,” he said. “We are just so lucky to have him.”
“Nobody knew anything about him. I watched him play against Reading for [Arsenal’s] under-21s last season and I thought he was great,” he added. “I enquired about him in January, but they needed him for their Champions League squad.”
McCarthy praised the player’s work ethic as well, saying he matches graft with talent.
“He’s such a lovely kid and all, he’s fitted in perfectly. What’s nice for him is we’ve got Josh Emmanuel, Myles Kenlock, Adam McDonnell and Teddy Bishop, they’re his age and peers.”
“I had the conversation with him ‘I know you can play, but if you don’t run around and don’t put a shift in you won’t play’ but he’s a workaholic.”
Fantastic to hear the lad is getting on so well at his new club. Aged just 17, this will do wonders for his confidence going forward. He has shown glimpses of his talent in his cameos for Arsenal, and now he gets a chance to play week in and week out.
Good luck to Ainsley for the rest of the campaign.
