In an exclusive interview with The Mirror this week, England's young starlet Arnold not only talked about his thoughts on Southgate's resignation, but also fondly recalled the decisive moment at the Euros - the penalty shootout in the quarter-final against Switzerland, where he calmly hit the spot-kick to help his team qualify in thrilling fashion. At the same time, he also shared the changes that fame has brought to his life, and how he keeps his heart and continues to move forward.
On Southgate's resignation, Arnold said it reminded him of how he felt when Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool. "They were the ones who gave me the chance to make my debut and make my dream come true." He said gratefully, "Coach Southgate's work is underrated and the way he leads the team, the team atmosphere he creates and the way he handles himself when faced with pressure is admirable. He has led us to the final once again, which is an indelible achievement."
When asked about the possibility of Klopp coaching England, Arnold expressed his anticipation of working with Klopp again, but also admitted it would be a huge surprise. "I've enjoyed every moment working with him and we've built a strong friendship and bond. But if he does take the job I will be very happy but also surprised as he seems to be enjoying his time off at the moment."
Talking about life after fame, Arnold admits that he will be recognized by people when he walks down the road, but he was prepared for that. "I've had a sense of this kind of fame since I was in school, and I try to stay humble and low key." He said, "Fame does bring some changes, like more attention and responsibility, but the most important thing for me is to keep my love and focus on soccer and keep improving my game."
Arnold still can't hide his excitement when recalling the penalty kick at the Euros. "When I stepped up to the penalty spot, my mind was very clear and focused on the task at hand." He said, "After scoring the goal, I realized that it was not just an important moment for me personally, but for the whole country and the team. At that moment, I felt an immense sense of pride and accomplishment."
Arnold added that the penalty would go down as one of the brightest moments of his career, and that he cherishes every opportunity to showcase himself on the pitch. "I see it as an opportunity rather than pressure and I have full confidence in myself." He said, "Whatever challenges I face in the future, I will face them with the same mentality and try to become a better version of myself."
