Arsenal news: Gunners starlet Ainsley Maitland-Niles aiming to replicate role model Mesut Ozil and become a superstar at the club
England U20s ace targets World Cup glory after captaining Young Lions to glory
AINSLEY MAITLAND-NILES has just captained England to success - and immediately set his sights on replicating his "role model" Mesut Ozil by winning more silverware.
The Arsenal midfielder was handed the armband in the absence of usual skipper Taylor Moore as the Under-20s defeated USA 2-0 at Rochdale on Monday.
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Victories over Holland and Germany last week mean that the Young Lions romped home as winners of the four-team mini tournament with a 100 per cent record.
And with the Under-20s World Cup fast-approaching next year, the 19-year-old is aiming to conquer the planet’s best in South Korea.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport, Maitland-Niles said: “It’s the first time I’ve got to captain England and it was a great pleasure.
"It was even better I got to lift the trophy with Taylor.
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“Tournaments like this are vital preparation ahead of the World Cup and exactly what we need. It’s good planning.
“We had a few lads missing with injuries for this tournament, but that gives opportunities to others who have got on with it and performed well.
“The competition is fierce in this age group – I looked at the bench and saw the strength of it, which is fantastic.
“So we have stuck to the task and won all three games.
“It came late against the US, but that that’s what happens sometimes and you always have to play until the 90th minute or even the 92nd minute sometimes.”
This England age-group tasted success on the international stage two years ago when they were crowned European champions at U17 level.
Last summer they were among the favourites to the repeat the feat at U19 level, but unfortunately for Maitland-Niles and his team-mates they were narrowly defeated by Italy in the semi-finals.
And that pain is driving the squad on according to the teen.
He added: “I’ve obviously been speaking to some of the boys and we are hungry for the World Cup and of course we want to go and win it.
“We know it will be extremely tough but we want that challenge.
“Last summer we felt that we let ourselves down a bit at the Euros and we shouldn’t have lost against Italy – but sometimes that’s how it goes.
“What we have to do now is keep working hard to try and get that standard back to try and win.”
It is not only on the international stage that the Gunners ace knows he has to keep up his strong work ethic.
Following a spell on loan in the Championship with Ipswich last season, Maitland-Niles has appeared for Arsenal in this season’s EFL Cup.
And he is loving every second of fulfilling his life-long dream at the Emirates, but the level-headed youngster is not about to take his foot off the gas any time soon and he has some wise heads to help guide him.
He added: “Mesut Ozil is probably my role model at the club and he has been speaking to me a lot and giving me advice and tips.
“I’m really enjoying this season. Ever since I was a kid all I’ve ever wanted to do is play for Arsenal – I've supported them all my life and it is a dream come true to play for them.
“There’s a lot of hard work ahead for me and I know it isn't done yet. I’ll keep pushing though to try and become the best player I can be.”