After England’s UEFA Euro quarter-final against Switzerland, an exchange involving Arnold sparked a heated debate.
In the match that saw England advance to the semi-finals via a penalty shootout, Arnold, in the post-match celebration with family and friends, inadvertently revealed that one of his teammates was “unwilling to take responsibility,” i.e., reluctant to take a penalty kick.
The Liverpool defender came on as a substitute towards the end of extra time and successfully converted his spot-kick, contributing a crucial point for his team. However, his off-the-cuff comment during his post-match chat with loved ones created a storm on social media. Although Arnold did not name the player directly, fans started speculating that it could be either Harry Kane or Phil Foden, as both were substituted before the end of extra time.
Other players like Stones, Walker, Rice, Luke Shaw, and Eze also did not participate in the penalty shootout, but their absence doesn’t necessarily confirm their reluctance to take responsibility.
Fans took to the internet to engage in intense discussions, trying to identify the player who didn’t want to take a penalty. Some suggested Foden due to the timing of his substitution aligning with Arnold’s entrance. Others speculated it could be Kane because of his underwhelming performance during the game.
However, there were also critics who disapproved of Arnold discussing such matters in public. Some fans warned that his comments might land him in trouble, especially if the England coaching staff became aware of the situation, which could potentially have negative repercussions for him.