Arsenal starlet Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ‘next Gareth Bale’, Tony Cascarino says – ‘Sorry, Spurs fans’
Former Chelsea forward Tony Cascarino has apologised to Tottenham fans for discovering the ‘next Gareth Bale’… who just happens to play for Arsenal.Cascarino, in his latest Times column, claims 21-year-old Gunners starlet Ainsley Maitland-Niles is showing all the same kind of traits as Bale did when he first joined Spurs in 2007.Maitland-Niles has established himself as a valuable player under Unai Emery this season2
Maitland-Niles has established himself as a valuable player under Unai Emery this season
He is, as Cascarino writes, ‘a full-back who is not really a full-back’, as Bale was in his early career.Eventually Bale moved higher and higher up the pitch, ending up as an all-out forward – the position in which he became world class. Maitland-Niles is naturally a midfielder, and he’s only been forced to play in defence due to the injury to Hector Bellerin. Nonetheless, he has impressed at right-back, and has also shown his versatility by playing on the left side of defence on occasion this season.Having developed as a player in a more advanced position, Maitland-Niles loves to get forward, making him the perfect option for a modern full-back.

LIVE ON talkSPORT

talkSPORT is your home of live football! Here's what's coming up on talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2...
  • Aston Villa vs Millwall (Monday, 1pm) talkSPORT 2
  • Hull vs Sheffield United (Monday, 3pm) talkSPORT 2
  • Brentford vs Leeds United (Monday, 5:15pm) talkSPORT
  • Tottenham vs Brighton (Tuesday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT
  • Luton vs AFC Wimbledon (Tuesday, 7:45pm) talkSPORT 2
  • Sheffield United vs Ipswich (Saturday, 5:15pm) talkSPORT 2
  • Brighton vs Newcastle (Saturday, 5:30pm) talkSPORT
  • Norwich vs Blackburn (Saturday, 7:30pm) talkSPORT 2
  • Leeds United vs Aston Villa (Sunday, 12pm) talkSPORT 2
  • Coventry vs Shrewsbury (Sunday, 3pm) talkSPORT 2
And Cascarino did not hold back in his praise of the youngster.“I saw the next Gareth Bale on Thursday,” he writes in the Times, “and he was wearing an Arsenal shirt.“Sorry, Spurs fans.“Ainsley Maitland-Niles is a full-back who is not really a full-back, just like Bale when he joined Tottenham in 2007. He has fierce pace and gets in great positions to score and create chances. He has improved hugely and has benefited from the injury to the first-choice right back Hctor Bellern.Bale began his career as a left-back before moving into an attacking position2
Bale began his career as a left-back before moving into an attacking position
“He is more of a wing back but could easily play in midfield too.”Cascarino did offer a warning to Maitland-Niles, however, concerning the injuries that may occur due to his style of play.“After a few recent injuries,” he continued, “the worry is that his explosive style may make him injury-prone, like Bale.”
The definition of a clear and obvious mistake was a source of confusion at times when VAR was being used at the World Cup

View the latest Premier League tables, form guides and season archives, on the official website of the Premier League.
Revealed! How the Premier League table should REALLY look
Woodrow took to Twitter to describe his version of the events

Mauricio Pochettino has urged Tottenham Hotspur to rebuild the squad this summer to bring it up to the standard of their new stadium, but has warned that it is 'going to be painful'. Spurs famously failed to sign a single player in either of the last two transfer windows, with Lucas Moura's arrival from PSG in January 2018 being the last
Mauricio Pochettino Planning 'Painful' Tottenham Rebuild This
Samir Nasri made his West Ham debut in the FA Cup

Mar 26, 2019 · Bye! Hourihane free-kick downs Georgia after Ireland fans' tennis-ball protest. Read more. Conor Hourihane strikes for Republic of Ireland in vital win against Georgia. Italy posted a second successive win at the start of their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign by brushing aside Liechtenstein
Hourihane free-kick downs Georgia after Ireland fans' tennis-ball
Fraser Forster made his first appearance of the season for Southampton in a 3-0 defeat at West Ham earlier this month

Feb 22, 2019 · West Ham United hangs three on Fulham (video) the decision was made because he came to me before the end of the season and asked me not to activate the option [to buy him]," Rummenigge said
Arsenal vs Napoli FREE live stream: How to watch without
David Beckham hugs Salford players after the triumph

Manchester City transfer news: Sporting Lisbon's Bruno Fernandes will NOT be signing for Pep Guardiola's men this summer. Manchester City are not interested in signing Sporting Lisbon
Sporting Lisbon's Bruno Fernandes will NOT be signing for Pep
Modric claimed the honour of being crowned the best player in the world

Cameroon has been stripped of hosting rights for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. A Cameroonian government minister says the decision by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to withdraw the
Bonne has been a handful for all opponents this season

A first defeat for Steven Gerrard as Rangers boss. Celtic move second behind Hearts in the table. on for his first taste of an Old Firm derby. rallying Celtic team talk as Hoops stand on
Live Commentary: Rangers 1-0 Celtic - amp.sportsmole.co.uk
Jurgen Klopp has taken Liverpool to the next level this season

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino expects Hugo Lloris to return to the side against Brighton on Tuesday night, having missed the 1-0 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday.
Pochettino saved my Tottenham career - Lloris - ESPN FC
Robertson stopped Cristiano Ronaldo from scoring in last season’s Champions League Final
Ajax vs Tottenham: Spurs fans warned against purchasing
Atletico Madrid’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium will host the Champions League final where both Spurs and Liverpool will be allowed to name 12 substitutes
Manchester United news: How Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side could
Steven Gerrard’s side moved top of the league on Sunday
Barry Douglas injury update - Leeds United
An angry banner aimed at the former Bhoys boss read: “You traded immortality for mediocrity. Always a fraud, never a Celt”
'Literally worse than Alvaro Morata' - Some Chelsea fans turn
Martin O’Neill will be expected to lead a promotion charge for Nottingham Forest next season

'You can interpret it as you wish': Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane refuses to discuss Gareth Bale's future after dropping Welshman against Villarreal. dailymail.co.uk - Press Association Sport Staff. Head coach Zinedine Zidane refused to discuss Gareth Bale's future after the Welshman was left out of the matchday squad as Real Madrid claimed
Zidane defiant as Liverpool Man United target Bale exit looms