{"id":1365783,"date":"2024-10-13T20:35:48","date_gmt":"2024-10-13T19:35:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1365783"},"modified":"2024-10-15T12:55:16","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T11:55:16","slug":"trent-alexander-arnold-england-left-back-problem","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/trent-alexander-arnold-england-left-back-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Trent Alexander-Arnold shines in unfamiliar role, but casts light on one huge England problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trent Alexander-Arnold played a starring role in England’s 3-1 win over Finland in the Uefa Nations League on Sunday.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Three Lions were in desperate need of a victory after falling to a shock 2-1 defeat to Greece at Wembley in midweek, which has left their hopes of promotion back to League A in doubt.<\/p>\n

England quickly took control in Helsinki and found the lead after just 18 minutes, with Lille midfielder Angel Gomes beautifully playing in Jack Grealish for a one-on-one finish after receiving the ball between the lines from a fizzing Alexander-Arnold pass.<\/p>\n

Alexander-Arnold continued to exude control over the game in possession, but it took until the 74th minute for his best moment to come as he curled a beautiful free-kick over the wall and beyond Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.<\/p>\n

Both sides would go on to score again, with Declan Rice making it 3-0 for England before Arttu Hoskonen scored a consolation for the hosts. But it was Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick that effectively settled the tie, while also netting the Liverpool<\/a> man a cool \u00a3500 from teammate Grealish.<\/p>\n

“I joked to Trent before the free-kick ‘score this I will give you 500 quid’ and he slapped it in top bins,” the Man City<\/a> forward admitted after the match.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By the end of the match, Alexander-Arnold had completed 95 passes and 10 passes into the final third, while making two tackles, four recoveries and two clearances in a performance that drew high praise from interim boss Lee Carsley.<\/p>\n

“Trent’s quality speaks for itself,” the former Everton midfielder said. “It’s not that I have found a place for him — he has more than earned his place.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Trent Alexander-Arnold's game by numbers vs. Finland:<\/p>\n

100% duels won (3\/3)
130 touches
10 passes into final third
6 accurate long balls
4x possession won
3 shots
2 shots on target
2 tackles
2 clearances <\/p>\n

And one superb free-kick. ?#ThreeLions<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lK2A0yDtGU<\/a><\/p>\n

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) October 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n