Wales Online

Paul Arriola sends message to Steve Cooper as he reveals moment Swansea City bench witnessed 'scary' Jordan Morris injury

Wales Online logo Wales Online 28/02/2021 09:15:12 Mathew Davies

Swansea City's Paul Arriola says he is not here to make up the numbers and sit on the bench as he vows to play a part in the club's promotion push.

The US star arrived on loan on the last day of the transfer window, ending a will-he-won't-he saga that lasted most of the month of January.

He has so far been limited to cameos off the bench, making his debut chasing shadows - like the rest of Swansea 's players - against Manchester City in the FA Cup earlier this month.

Head coach Steve Cooper introduced him late on in the 3-1 defeat to Bristol City on Saturday as Swansea tried to fight back after being stunned by the Robins.

In truth, Arriola had little time to make an impression - although he did miss a glorious chance to give the home side parity - but he is determined to make his mark in some shape or form while he is on these shores.

"By no means am I content just to be here. I want to play," he told The Washington Post. "I want to help the team get promoted. I want to play a part in it.

"It's a matter of where and when and how and what I do with the opportunities."

Making his bow against Pep Guardiola's side has to be among the toughest tests in world football right now, such is City's dominance in the Premier League and in Europe.

As baptisms of fire go, it's right up there.

"At the beginning of the game and end of the game," he said, "the guys were saying, 'It doesn't get much harder than this anywhere in the world.'"

Indeed.


Video: Leeds boss Bielsa gives team news ahead of Villa clash (Mirror)

His integration into Swansea life was initially helped by having compatriot Jordan Morris by his side in SA1. Arriola, on loan from DC United, and Morris, signed until the end of the season from Seattle Sounders, know each other from the US international set-up.

But that support partnership was wrecked when Morris damaged his ACL in the defeat to Huddersfield last weekend - the same horror injury Arriola himself endured last year.

It brought back memories for the winger, who revealed the reaction of the Swansea bench when Morris went down unchallenged at The John Smith's Stadium.

"When he landed, he just sat there," Arriola said.

"That's when the guys on the bench were like, 'Oh, this isn't good.' I said, 'Please don't let it be his knee.' It becomes scary, thinking about his situation. You can't help but think, 'What if that was me again?'"

Morris has now headed back home, posting a picture on Instagram of him watching the game against Nigel Pearson's men, cementing his place among the Jack army.

His chances of signing for Swansea are over, and with Arriola's deal having no option to buy, his own stay in south Wales could also be a brief one.

So what has he made of Championship football so far?

"(It's) an intense league, very aggressive, very physical," he said.

"It feels like it's going 100 miles per hour at times. You have some really good, quality teams that want to play and then you have some teams that are more old school and very direct."

Arriola is due back Stateside in May when his deal expires, but he says he is happy he has scratched the itch of playing football this side of the Atlantic before his playing days are over.

"Even though I would've felt OK going through my career without ever playing in Europe, it's nice to be here getting exposure and getting into games," Arriola said.

"And the way the team is going is super valuable to me, regardless of what the future holds."

With games coming thick and fast and Swansea perhaps needing to freshen things up during the season run-in, Arriola may yet get his chance in Landore.

He is certainly willing.

dimanche 28 février 2021 11:15:12 Categories: Wales Online

ShareButton
ShareButton
ShareButton
  • RSS

Suomi sisu kantaa
NorpaNet Beta 1.1.0.18818 - Firebird 5.0 LI-V6.3.2.1497

TetraSys Oy.

TetraSys Oy.