Ostersunds 0-3 Arsenal
Arsenal beat Swedish minnows Ostersunds in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Gunners put on a seriously professional performance in Sweden on a freezing cold night as goals from Nacho Monreal, Mesut Ozil and and own goal from Sotirios Papagiannopoulos sealed the victory for the away side.
Arsenal’s away form has been diabolical this season and Thursday’s win was only Arsenal’s 5th away win of the season.
The Gunners have been woeful away from home but were still expected to beat an Ostersunds side playing in their first ever knockout match in European competition.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Arsenal were dominant in Sweden and finished the match with 61% possession.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles started his twelfth match of the season and impressed the Arsenal fans once again.
The 20 year old has started the majority of his matches this season at left back but was finally given the chance to play in central midfield, his true position, on Thursday night.
Could @Ains_7 be the answer to @Arsenal's defensive midfield problems? @1kevincampbell thinks so… pic.twitter.com/kUgziHxVAo
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) February 15, 2018
Speaking to ITV Sport after the match, former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell stated:
“The club have been crying out for that one central midfielder”
“He is neat and tidy, he’s got a bit more to his game than people think”
“He can get it, he can get it forward and he can get beyond the front”
The 20 year old has performed in every match that he has played this season, and that is from the wrong position.
Granit Xhaka, who signed for Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach for over £30 million in the summer of 2016, is yet to win over the Arsenal fans.
The Swiss midfielder is seen as far too clumsy and gives away too many fouls.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be the answer to Arsenal’s problems and we should see a lot more of him in the not too distant future.