Arsenal legend thinks Liverpool star is not good enough in the English national team

Ian Wright claims that Alexander Arnold is not good enough in the midfield for England

Ian Wright has given his ‘completely honest’ assessment of Liverpool left-back Trent Alexander-Arnold after his recent performance for England. The Three Lions started their Euro 2024 campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Serbia, courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s header in the first half. Alexander-Arnold was selected to play in midfield and featured for 70 minutes before Conor Gallagher replaced him.

During his appearance on Wrighty’s House, the Arsenal legend admitted he had anticipated Alexander-Arnold would operate in deeper midfield positions. Wright also conveyed his belief that the Liverpool star’s transition to midfield did not prove effective on the night.

“I don’t think it worked with Trent, if I’m totally honest,” Wright said. “As soon as it started I remember saying to you, he seems too far up for what we need. Toni Kroos can get in a position because of his creativity and make things happen, that’s what I thought Trent was going to do. Get into a position where Serbia can’t come out to him too much because he’s in space and then he can start passing those balls. Why is he that far forward? If he is our creative player to break that deep block and get those passes in, how is he going to do it in as advanced a position he is in?”

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The assessment of Alexander-Arnold’s performance seems to be a blend of praise and critique. While acknowledging his occasional mistakes in giving away the ball dangerously, the analysis highlights his overall contribution as positive and hardworking, particularly noting his impressive passing range.

The critique extends to England’s overall performance, describing it as below par on the night, with Alexander-Arnold standing out despite the team’s struggles. There’s optimism about his potential to excel in his new role, albeit with an expectation that it might take a few games for him to fully settle in.

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Furthermore, there’s a suggestion that Alexander-Arnold’s effectiveness depends significantly on how he’s utilized tactically by Gareth Southgate, emphasizing his strengths in distributing play from deeper positions. Overall, while there are areas for improvement noted, the commentary underscores Alexander-Arnold’s talent and the need for patience and strategic planning to maximize his impact within the team.