Arbeloa claims Real Madrid is fortunate to have Alexander-Arnold.
MADRID — Alvaro Arbeloa commended Trent Alexander-Arnold, stating that Real Madrid are “fortunate to have” him after the full-back excelled, contributing an assist, in the team’s 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Alexander-Arnold’s delivery into the area enabled Gonzalo García to score and give Madrid the lead just five minutes into the match at the Bernabéu, followed by two penalties from Vinícius Júnior and a goal from Federico Valverde that ensured the win and positioned Madrid at the top of the LaLiga standings.
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The England international has encountered a challenging first season in Spain, with injuries restricting him to merely 466 minutes — and two assists — in LaLiga since his notable transfer from Liverpool last summer.
“We’re not going to uncover anything new about Trent,” Arbeloa remarked on Real Madrid TV. “It was a pleasant surprise to observe how he comprehends the game, how he identifies spaces. Such attributes are crucial for a coach, having players who grasp our intentions.”
Arbeloa selected Alexander-Arnold at right-back over Dani Carvajal, after both players regained fitness, with Valverde returning to his favored midfield position.
Spain international Carvajal substituted for Alexander-Arnold following a commendable 60-minute performance.
“Collaborating with [Alexander-Arnold], he impresses me as a very astute individual, who comprehends the game exceptionally well, and quickly understands our requirements,” Arbeloa added during his post-match press conference.
“He’s not the conventional full-back who will always remain wide; he can also operate centrally. We seek players capable of interchanging positions. We’re fortunate to have such a player.”
Arbeloa also lauded Vinícius Júnior, who has now scored in consecutive league matches for the first time since August, having been suspended the previous weekend.
“I’ve been witnessing an excellent Vinícius for a month now, not just in this match,” Arbeloa stated. “He’s been performing at a very high level, being a game-changer. For me, he’s a player who transcends the statistics, able to impact matches.”
Kylian Mbappé was an unused substitute on Saturday — replaced by García — but Arbeloa expressed confidence that the star forward would be fit to participate in Madrid’s Champions League playoff first leg against Benfica on Tuesday.
“Mbappé has been managing [left knee] discomfort for quite some time,” Arbeloa noted. “He’s making a significant effort each time he steps onto the pitch. Today we opted not to take any risks with Tuesday in mind.”
