Arfield knows there’s no point moping at Ibrox
Scott Arfield believes Rangers have been revived by a policy that is making it more difficult for him to get game time.
The midfielder came off the bench to play the last 25 minutes of Thursday night’s Europa League victory over Porto. He would, obviously, prefer to be starting these glamour games but accepts that Steven Gerrard’s effort to bolster the Ibrox squad means it’s inevitable that some players will have to bide their time.
“When you get left out of the team, you have to somehow make an impact. Myself, Joe Aribo and Jermain Defoe did that when we came on the other night.
“Ever yone wants to play. You’re always disappointed, but it’s about channelling that disappointment in the right way to help the team. “There’s no good in moping about the place because we have strength in depth. It’s difficult to play in every game.
“Yo u can see the competition for places – look at the players on the bench.
“And there’s a group of players who train in the morning and then can’t even get on the bench.
“That’s because we’ve strengthened, and it’s why we feel we’re in a good place at the moment.
“A lot of people spoke about this last year.
“It caught up with us last season because we didn’t have the strengthin- depth – we certainly have it this season.”
Arfield maintains there’s been significant progress at Rangers during the 18 months he’s been at the club.
Steven Gerrard is yet to suffer a home defeat in 14 European matches, and that illustrates the added resilience he now has in his team.
Arfield went on: “I did fancy us before the Porto game, and that shows the mentality has come. “We can make Ibrox an uncomfortable place for anybody to come to. “The minimum you can do is make it as awkward as possible for technical players.
“Even good footballers don’t like it when you get after them.”
He may now be 31 years old, but Arfield has no thoughts of slowing down.
All he needs to do is look at 37- year- old Jermain Defoe and 34- year- old Steven Davis if he’s in need of inspiration.
The Canadian internationalist said: “As soon as Steve walked through the door, I knew he would take it to a new level.
“It’s not just what he’s done on the pitch, but off it as well.
“The young lads look at the way he and Jermain live their lives.
“Their body shape is something men of their age don’t normally have.
“Football is a wonderful thing and the time that I’m tired of it is when I’m going to have problems. “I don’t feel tired.
“At this football club, you’re on a wave of excitement and you feel it’s just going to get better.”