Ainsley Maitland-Niles has described his loan move to West Brom as ‘another loan deal’ after ‘rotting away’ on Arsenal’s bench.
Maitland-Niles joined the Baggies on loan for the remainder of the season on transfer deadline day last month, having been a bit-part player at the Emirates.
The 23-year has expressed his desire on many occasions in the past to play in a central midfield role, and at Arsenal he was always shifted around as a utility man, playing on either wing and in either full-back role for the Gunners when required.
Since joining Albion however he has finally been given an extended run in his desired position, playing the full 90 as a central midfielder in the club’s previous five Premier League matches.
Talking to talkSPORT, Maitland-Niles revealed that coming to West Brom made sense for him because it allows him to express himself rather than occupy a substitute’s spot.
The England international said: “It’s another loan deal, you are going to end up going back to the club eventually.
“It was just more of a chance for me to show what I’m capable of other than sitting on the bench for the rest of the season and rotting away.
“The main reason was being able to play as there’s nothing better than playing. I felt it would be great to experience the work of people trying to save their careers and stay in the Premier League.
“I think it was the perfect fit for me to be here and show them the qualities I can produce.”
Chance to prove himself
Maitland-Niles hardly sounds like he’s particularly committed to our cause.
Though admittedly it’s tough to imagine anyone playing international and European football would drop down into the relegation zone willingly because they love scrapping at the bottom of the table.
Maitland-Niles speaks as though he is solely focused on learning and experiencing new things which he can take back to Arsenal, leaving Albion as abruptly as he joined.
Should he help us survive the drop then it won’t matter anyway, but we’re a long way off saying that could be a possibility.
If Maitland-Niles keeps aspiring to improve and play better, it’ll be a mutually beneficial situation, however it does feel a bit like Albion are being used merely as a vehicle as things stand.
In other West Brom news, Newcastle boss Steve Bruce disagrees with Sam Allardyce’s assessment that the Premier League have picked on West Brom.