Maybe he’s not quite so bad?
Trent Alexander Arnold of Liverpool has received more criticism than most players, but the numbers don’t lie, and the ‘I told you so’ brigade is marching.
At only 24 years old, Alexander Arnold already has a trophy cabinet that includes the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Super Cup, FIFA World Cup, and the Community Shield for good measure. Alexander Arnold has won everything there is to win at the domestic level with his home club Liverpool.
The Liverpudlian is a stalwart in Jurgen Klopp’s teams, has been undroppable during all of these successful seasons, and is also record-breaking, as he is now second in the Premier League table for top assists from a defender.
How then, you wonder, has he faced such vehement scrutiny from fans, pundits, commentators and keyboard warriors, who refuse to believe that this man is anything less than world class?
The answer is simple – he had a bad season. Well, for the most part anyway. With Klopp’s 4-3-3 formation designed to bring out the best in his defender’s attacking prowess, the right back was thriving when going forward.
However, by playing such a high line, and being so reliant on your midfield to do the donkey work in the final third, you risk being hugely exposed at the back.
This season Liverpool’s midfield was their greatest weakness, as they failed to buy anyone in the summer and players like Jordan Henderson, Thiago and James Milner were all another year further away from 30, and much more injury prone.
The likes of Naby Kieta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones were all injured for huge parts of the year, and the club became far too reliant on teenagers Harvey Elliot and Stefan Bajcetic to step up.
In many respects, this left Alexander Arnold hanging out to dry. Week after week, videos of attackers beating him up on the left wing would surface, and blame for the young player’s poor play was immediately placed on him.
When Klopp made a small tweak and incorporated the magician into a hybrid right-back-midfielder position, his entire season was transformed.
As his assists and goals increased, he began to dominate all the metrics and scooped up man of the match accolades like it was nothing.
Since first making that move during the second half of the match against Arsenal on the 9th April, the Englishman has since dominated all of the KPIs in the league.
Trent Alexander-Arnold in the Premier League since playing an inverted role for the first time against Arsenal:
◉ Most touches
◉ Most final ⅓ passes
◉ Most passes into final ⅓
◉ Most possession won
◉ Most through balls
◉ Most assistsNo.10 stats. 😉 pic.twitter.com/dAqucjjmVe
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 16, 2023
Most touches, most final ⅓ passes, most passes into final ⅓, most possession won, most through balls, and most assists.
Alexander Arnold’s early season struggles meant that he was dropped from the England panel but not only has he been recalled to the team; for the first time in his career, he’s actually a key player.
Seeing the Anfield hero in his new role excited Gareth Southgate, who went one better than playing him as an inverted midfielder, and gave him the number 10 shirt.
In his first game he got Man of the Match and once again topped all of the key stats.
England's number 1⃣0⃣
A man-of-the-match performance from Trent Alexander-Arnold.
He came out on top in a number of stats tonight 👇 #BBCFootball #MLTENG pic.twitter.com/QTaiGg0VnL
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 16, 2023
The “I told you so” crowd is now turning on critics, but when you dish it out, you have to take it back as well. None of this will sway the thoughts of the football experts, though.
Stats don’t lie, though, and given how high his ceiling is, Alexander Arnold’s evolution has only begun.
Liverpool prepared to guarantee £26million deal to get signing done
The most recent reports about Sofyan Amrabat, a playmaker for Fiorentina and a Moroccan international, are intriguing.
The Viola are already planning for the African star’s departure this summer, according to today’s edition of Corriere dello Sport.
The Rome based media outlet have mentioned that Fiorentina are targeting the signing of Maxime Lopez to replace the 26-year-old defensive midfielder next season.
Amrabat is liked by Premier League sides like Liverpool and Newcastle United and also wanted in Spain by Atletico Madrid and champions, Barcelona.
It must be remembered that apart from the Reds, all the above mentioned suitors can offer Champions League football to the player next season.
CdS claim Fiorentina are asking for a fee worth £26million for their prized asset, however, Barca and the Rojiblancos are unable to meet the price.
On the other hand, Liverpool and Newcastle have made themselves heard that they are prepared to guarantee a deal worth £26million to get the signing done.
In response, Amrabat has made it clear that his preference is to move to Spain. The Serie A side are trying to resolve his future at the earliest.
The Atlas Lions holding midfield star was without doubt the best play breaker at the FIFA World Cup last year. We shall see how the transfer saga unfolds and will keep you updated.