Ainsley Maitland-Niles is full of praise for Freddie Ljungberg’s training methods and believes that Arsenal’s assistant first-team coach has improved the attacking side of his game.
Following a coaching reshuffle at the Emirates over the summer, Ljungberg was promoted into a prominent position in Unai Emery’s coaching team with Steve Bould replacing him as U23 manager.
Ljungberg, an important member of Arsenal’s Invincibles side in 2003-04, has reportedly impressed in his new role and is being tipped as a potential successor to Emery should the Spaniard leave at the end of his contract in 2021.
Explaining how Ljungberg has helped him this term, Maitland-Niles said: ‘There’s quite a few things [I have learnt from Ljungberg] really. He knows me as a winger, so attacking-wise he’s helped my game a lot.
‘Defensively, I go to someone else to help me because they’re two different styles that I have to play. Him personally, he’s pulled me to the side a lot and has shown me different techniques and ways of beating players, ways of crossing the ball and shooting.
‘It’s helping me and I’m happy to have him around because he’s such a big figure in the team.’
As well as helping Maitland-Niles on the training pitch, Ljungberg has also been credited with assisting Joe Willock and Bukayo Saka’s development during his role with Arsenal U23s last season.
Speaking last month, Emery praised the impact Ljungberg has had on the squad, saying: ‘He knows Arsenal perfectly, the young players, he helps us every day in training, the matches and before.
‘He knows the characteristics of the Premier League. I’m very happy with him. Each assistant has their work. We are together to speak with the players. We are in the dressing room, we spoke about all the situations individually. We share some moments.’
Maitland-Niles has been heavily involved for Arsenal in the opening weeks of the campaign, starting six of the club’s eight Premier League matches although he faces competition at right-back from Calum Chambers and fit-again Hector Bellerin.
The England U21 international defended himself from criticism of his form earlier this season by suggesting that Emery is playing him out of position after he came through Arsenal’s academy as a box-to-box midfielder.
