The problem was exposed as soon as he joined. Real Madrid s new player Arnold: Offensive kaleidoscope, is it difficult to defend?

Real Madrid new player Arnold: Offensive kaleidoscope, defense is "hard"? In the early morning of June 23, 2025, in the second round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Group H, Trent Alexander Arnold once again won the trust of coach Xavi Alonso and started the game. However, the performance of the England full-back has sparked heated discussions as always, and discussions about his "strong offense and weak defense" are endless. Real Madrid suffered a heavy blow just 7 minutes into the game. Raul Asensio was sent off for a red card for a foul outside the penalty area, which forced the team to face the match with ten players early. At that time, Arnold was actively stepping forward to participate in the offense, and the gap left on the right was also exposed.

Nevertheless, Arnold quickly proved his worth with a wonderful assist. In the 43rd minute, he sent out an accurate cross, assisting Arda Guere to score, expanding the score to 2-0. Before that, Bellingham had broken the deadlock for Real Madrid in the 36th minute. After the game, many fans praised Arnold's pass, believing that this was the reason why Real Madrid introduced him, saying that his performance was "simply master level."

Defensive end: Controversy and concern coexist

However, the highlight performance on the offensive end cannot completely cover up Arnold's shortcomings on the defensive end. After his debut with Riyadh Crescent, doubts about his defensive ability have once again become rampant. Many Real Madrid fans expressed concerns on social media:

"We should not be oppressing at high positions like Barcelona, ​​as it is easy to concede the ball, and Arnold's defense is not a strong point."

"He doesn't know how to protect the near post. At present, this defense line is too easy to be targeted by the opponent."

In the face of external doubts, coach Xavi Alonso defended Arnold in a post-match interview. He said: "Arnold is not the kind of traditional full-back who only knows how to keep a close eye on the wing and guard the wing. He can draw in the midfield and participate in the organization and cooperation. The important thing is that other players must know how to run around him. We need time to run in and optimize the system, but he does have very high value in game reading."

As the season deepens, Arnold's role in Real Madrid is still being adjusted. His creativity is undoubtedly exciting, but how to solve the "difficult" problem of defensive stability will be the biggest test he faces in Real Madrid in the future.