Arsenal news: Neville blasts Wenger for picking Maitland-Niles against Liverpool

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville says he cannot understand why Ainsley Maitland-Niles was selected against Liverpool tonight.

00:00, Sat, Dec 23, 2017 | UPDATED: 00:09, Sat, Dec 23, 2017

Ainsley Maitland Niles Arsenal SKY SPORTS

Arsenal news: Ainsley Maitland Niles should not have played against Liverpool, says Neville

Maitland-Niles made his third successive start in the Premier League at left-back for Arsenal.

The 20-year-old is naturally a midfielder and with two left-backs in the squad, it was always a risky move by Wenger.

Neville says Maitland-Niles was caught out of position for Philippe Coutinho’s opening goal for Liverpool.

And he says Arsenal were lucky the visitors were not further ahead at half time, with Maitland-Niles struggling on several occasions.

“The goal came about from a counter attack,” Neville said on Sky Sports.

It’s tough on the kid, I’m not sure why you would put him in this game
Gary Neville on Arsenal ace Ainsley Maitland-Niles

“Maitland-Niles, I always say that when the ball’s on your side it’s fine, but when you have to start searching for people you get drawn into a position you should never be.

“(Mohamed) Salah gets free on that right-hand side and it just becomes a race between (Granit) Xhaka, (Jack) Wilshere and Coutinho.

“Liverpool, the danger is that they’ve missed the chances. These chances, look at the boy at full-back.

“You can talk about not being targeted, but he has been targeted at that back post.

Olivier Giroud takes on Arsenal fan in scorpion kick challenge

Arsenal Liverpool Ainsley Maitland Niles SKY SPORTS

Arsenal news: Ainsley Maitland-Niles struggled, particularly in the first half, against Liverpool

“It’s been a real problem for him and there’s been big, big chances for Liverpool.

"Again, look at the back post, ball-watching, not knowing the position.

“It’s tough on the kid, I’m not sure why you would put him in this game. When I look at that first half, he has struggled for me.

“Not on the ball, not when the ball was on his side, but when the ball has been away from him.”

The game ended 3-3 at the Emirates after a dramatic second half in north London.