Aubameyang: Arsenal Should Be Proud Of Academy Star Maitland-Niles

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang heaps praise on Maitland-Niles after Rennes win…

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang lavished praise on Gunners starlet Ainsley Maitland-Niles after they both got on the scoresheet in our 3-0 win against Rennes to book our place in the Europa League quarter-final.

Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Aubameyang stated that the club and its supporters should be proud of a player like Maitland-Niles who’s thriving in the first-team squad after achieving the most difficult journey in football.

Joining the club’s infamous Hale End Academy at the age of 6, the utility man has worked his way through the ranks and is now a bonafide first-team member.

Maitland-Niles, despite growing up as a central midfielder, has seen most of his senior appearances come in full-back role ever since Arsene Wenger promoted him in 2017.

He’s continued to grow under Unai Emery and in the absence of the injured Hector Bellerin, Maitland-Niles has seamlessly plugged the gap at right-back and excelled.

“I’m really happy tonight for him because Arsenal have to be proud of young players like this who come from the youth team, they come here and he’s playing so well,” Aubameyang said.

“We’re all happy.”

After a sensational display against Manchester United, Maitland-Niles followed it up with a mature performance in a game which ended a defining week.

Emery’s relies heavily on the full-backs whether or not he plays back four, and if the academy product wasn’t presented then we would’ve had to settle for the overwhelmed Stephan Lichsteiner.

As a fan, there’s nothing that can replace the feeling of seeing one of our own reach the top of the game while wearing our shirt.