Unai Emery has challenged Ainsley Maitland-Niles to show greater consistency after the youngster's impressive return to Premier League action in Arsenal's 1-0 win over Newcastle United.
Maitland-Niles provided the game's outstanding moment on a dreary afternoon at St James' Park, bursting forward to intercept Paul Dummett's pass, charging down the right flank and crossing for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to clip the ball over Martin Dubravka.
The attacking abilities of the 21-year-old, whose natural position is in central midfield, have never been in doubt but equally encouraging in Maitland-Niles' display was the defensive solidity he brought to the right flank under pressure from Miguel Almiron and Matt Ritchie.
Maitland-Niles won more tackles - four - than any other Arsenal player and also completed three interceptions, as many as the rest of his team-mates combined. That his last competitive start having come in the Europa League final, where Eden Hazard tore through him in the second half, made this an even impressive comeback from the youngster.
Now Emery wants to see more of the same.
"He played very seriously," the Arsenal head coach said. "He's improving, he can do more and we are speaking with him every day, watching movies with him every day, individually and collectively.
"Today, really, really I say to him congratulations but your challenge is to be consistent today, tomorrow and the next week."
After nearly an hour of draining football in heavy rain Maitland-Niles showed impressive energy and acceleration to claim the ball ahead of substitute Jetro Willems.
"On a big pitch like this, you can get tired, and I guess that's what happened with their defence," he said. "It was a big opportunity for me to give it t him, I executed it well and his finish won us the game.
"I expect [Aubameyang] to score. Him, Lacazette, Nico Pepe, Mkhitaryan - we've got good players that can score. We’re never in doubt when people are through on goal."
