Former Three Lions defender Ashely Cole believes the Liverpool star, Alexander Arnold is at his best when occupying a bigger role and not as a wing-back.
According to Ashley Cole, he doesn’t “like to see him (Arnold) playing as a wing-back”. He believes Gareth Southgate is misusing the Liverpool star.
Alexander Arnold played for 79 minutes as the Three Lions secured a boost in a 2-1 win over Belgium in the Nations League clash. Southgate fielded a much-changed line up with the inclusion of Arnold, Kyle Walker, and Kieran Trippier- all right-back by trade. The line-up however raised more than a few brows.
Tripper took up an unnatural role on the left and Walker formed part of a back three alongside Harry Maguire and Eric Dier while Alexander Arnold started at right wing-back.
The Liverpool star Arnold is used to play in a more convectional right-back role for the Reds. Statistically, the club has hugely benefitted from his outstanding range and overlapping runs in the Premier League and the Champions League in recent seasons.
For this reason, Cole says Southgate failed to play the 22-year-old’s strengths against the Belgians. The former Three Lions defender feels the wing-back role limited Arnold’s contribution going forward.
He said, “I don’t like to see him playing as a wing-back. He’s better-suited playing from deeper ad arriving into areas”.
“With Alexander coming into that space, you start to see his range of crosses and passing. He did most of his work chasing the left-wing back trying to get in behind him which I don’t think suits him”.
Arnold will again be in line to feature when England proceeds with their Nations League campaign with a home fixture against Denmark on Wednesday. This will be three days before Liverpool are due back in Premier League action away at Everton in their first Merseyside derby of the 2020/21 season.