BlueMeanie
Well-Known Member
THERE are 301 reasons to say Jermain Defoe is the most natural finisher at Rangers.
But the second most natural?
For me, it’s not Kemar Roofe, Cedric Itten or out-of-sorts Alfredo Morelos.
It’s undoubtedly Scott Arfield.
The timing of his run, the composure in his finish, the confidence in his play — they were all there to see against Standard Liege on Thursday night.
He’s now scored four goals in his last five games. He’s bagged seven for the season from midfield — the same number as Roofe and more than either Defoe or Itten.
And, as Steven Gerrard confirmed in the wake of qualification for the last 32 of the Europa League, he’s nailed down his place in the team.
Arfield’s run of form has been crucial for Gers on their 24- game unbeaten start to the season. So have his goals.
Not just the winner against Liege but the one against Galatasaray which helped them into the group stage, and the one against Benfica last week.
I’m not going to compare his game to Gerrard as a player or the likes of Frank Lampard. They did it for years at a world-class level.
But the timing of his runs into the box and the coolness of his finishing are definitely Gerrard-esque or Lampard-esque.
And, when a player is making such a massive contribution, it can cover up shortcomings elsewhere.
The midfielder has bagged versus Galatasaray...
And Benfica
I’ll bet Morelos is glad Arfield is scoring such vital goals because it’s taken the spotlight away from him when he’s not playing well.
Arfield has also helped ease the burden on Ryan Kent who, for a long time, looked like Gers’ best source of goals and assists.
In some ways, Arfield’s form has summed up Gers’ season. He has found some really good form and just doesn’t look like letting it go.
He looks comfortable, he looks happy and his contribution in front of goal is becoming absolutely vital as the team pursues success.
Defoe, of course, has bagged 301 career goals and is one of the most natural finishers in the game.
But I’ve been so impressed by Arfield in front of goal.
When he needs power, he’s got it. When he needs precision — as he did when he met Kent’s cutback on Thursday night — he’s got that, too.
And that precise timing of his runs into the opposition penalty areas makes him virtually unstoppable. He looks so composed in front of goal and, if you look at his post-match interview, he looks so relaxed at the moment.
At 32, he’s also at an age where he understands the game and gets his role in the team.
Gerrard has excellent footballers in midfield in the likes of Steven Davis, Ryan Jack and Glen Kamara. He has a fine ball-carrier in Joe Aribo.
But Arfield knows his ability to get into scoring areas — and take the chances — is invaluable to Rangers right now.
Morelos is going through a spell where he’s slashing and smashing at things. Roofe has tended to specialise in wonder goals so far.
That’s why I say Arfield is the second-best finisher around at the moment.
It’s amazing to think he wasn’t always in Gerrard’s first team at the start of the season. But he’s worked so hard to get in and now he’s working just as hard to stay in. With Aribo and Bongani Zungu on the bench against Liege — and Jack in the stand injured — he knows there is genuine competition for places.
He realises that he can’t allow his standards to drop or he could be back out of the team.
I remember playing at Kilmarnock with Gary McDonald, who went on to play for Aberdeen and win the Scottish Cup with St Johnstone, and he could time those runs into the box with perfection.
But he couldn’t finish.
That’s what makes Arfield so vital to Gerrard right now as Gers head for Ross County on Sunday and the chance to keep that big lead at the top of the table.
His winner against Liege should have been welcomed by the whole of Scottish football.
The victory for Rangers boosted the all-important coefficient and kept Scotland ahead of Ukraine and Turkey in 11th place in Uefa’s standings.
That could pave the way for next season’s title winners to go straight into the cash-rich group phase of the Champions League.
For many years, Celtic flew the flag almost single-handedly for Scotland’s coefficient. But Rangers have played their part again over the last three seasons and now they are leading the way in Europe.
To lose 17 goals in five group games in the Europa League this season must be a source of embarrassment for Celtic.
Of course, they can still help the coefficient with a win over Lille on Thursday night.
But Gers go to Poznan looking to top their section — with Arfield just one of their stars in the form of his life.
