The Three Lions are set to face Serbia in their opening Euro Cup match. Ahead of the game, former England football legend Pierce has suggested that Southgate’s idea of deploying Liverpool’s versatile player Arnold alongside Rice in the central midfield is a sound strategy, as Arnold’s technical skills “are very similar to Hoddle’s.”
Arnold’s position on the pitch has been a hot topic in discussions around England’s team setup. Manager Southgate intends to start Arnold in midfield, but former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane publicly stated that the predominantly right-back player would be “ripped apart” against top teams in the middle. However, not all legends share Keane’s skepticism, with former celebrated England full-back Pierce supporting his ex-international teammate’s choice.
Pierce commented, “Declan (Rice) can do it all; I think we could even consider freeing him up to play a bit further forward, like he did at Arsenal. I believe Declan can offer more to the team, but balance must come first. If Declan partners with Trent (Arnold), that balance is there, allowing Declan to utilize his passing abilities. I might compare Trent to Glenn Hoddle – while defending isn’t his strongest suit, his technique is flawless, and Trent is very much like him.”
Ex-England Star: Arnold and Rice Could Bring Balance to Midfield, Comparable to Hoddle’s Talent. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/ex-england-star-arnold-and-rice-could-bring-balance-to-midfield-comparable-to-hoddles-talent.html
