Alvaro Arbeloa Commends Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Impact in Madrid’s Victory

omidbasir- MADRID — Alvaro Arbeloa has expressed his admiration for Trent Alexander-Arnold, stating that Real Madrid is “lucky to have” him following the full-back’s impressive performance, which included an assist, in the team’s 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Alexander-Arnold’s precise delivery into the box facilitated Gonzalo García’s opening goal just five minutes into the match at the Bernabéu. The victory was further solidified by two penalties from Vinícius Júnior and a goal from Federico Valverde, propelling Madrid to the top of the LaLiga table.

In light of his recent struggles due to injuries, which limited him to only 466 minutes and two assists in LaLiga since his high-profile transfer from Liverpool last summer, Arbeloa acknowledged the challenges Alexander-Arnold has faced in his inaugural season in Spain.

“We’re not going to discover anything new about Trent,” Arbeloa remarked during a segment on Real Madrid TV. “It was a pleasant surprise to observe his game intelligence and spatial awareness. Such attributes are vital for a coach who seeks players that grasp our tactical objectives.”

Arbeloa opted for Alexander-Arnold at right-back over Dani Carvajal after both players returned from injury, allowing Valverde to resume his preferred midfield role. Carvajal later substituted Alexander-Arnold after an impressive 60 minutes on the pitch.

“Working with [Alexander-Arnold], I find him to be a very intelligent individual who comprehends the game exceptionally well and adapts quickly to our requirements,” Arbeloa stated in the post-match news conference. “He is not the conventional full-back who remains exclusively wide; he possesses the capability to play centrally as well. We value players who can interchange positions, and we are fortunate to have someone of his caliber.”

Arbeloa also lauded Vinícius Júnior, who has scored in consecutive league matches for the first time since August, following his suspension last weekend. “I have observed a remarkable Vinícius for about a month now, not just in this match,” Arbeloa commented. “He has been performing at an exceptionally high level, serving as a game-changer. For me, he transcends mere statistics and is capable of influencing the outcome of matches.”

Kylian Mbappé, an unused substitute during the match and replaced by García, was noted by Arbeloa as potentially being available for Madrid’s Champions League playoff first leg against Benfica on Tuesday. “Mbappé has been managing left knee discomfort for some time now, yet he exerts great effort each time he steps onto the pitch. Today, we opted to avoid any risks with Tuesday’s match on the horizon.”