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‘I’m not a defender’ – Maitland-Niles makes Arsenal admission after providing Bellerin cover

The versatile 22-year-old is hoping to keep his place in the Gunners XI, but has called for patience if Unai Emery continues to use him at right-back

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is hoping to keep his place in the Arsenal side, with regular right-back Hector Bellerin back to full fitness, but the versatile 22-year-old concedes: “I’m not a defender”.

A product of a famed academy system in north London stepped out of the youth ranks as a midfielder.

He considers his best work to be carried out in that area of the field, but has been asked to adapt his game when dropping into the back four.