WENGER WALKER WARNING
ARSENE WENGER claims Kyle Walker is England’s weakest link.
The Manchester City wing-back has been playing on the right side of England’s three-man defence.
Walker admitted it was not his favourite position before the start of the tournament.
He conceded a needless penalty in England’s opening Group G win over Tunisia with former England star Rio Ferdinand claiming it proved Walker still did not understand his new position at international level.
Wenger agrees and says England boss Gareth Southgate is taking a huge risk in picking Walker. The former Arsenal
from JEREMY CROSS manager said: “He’s not a real defender, and especially not a central defender.
“He can be subject to making defensive mistakes, which he would not pay for when he plays on the right.
“The player who has been sacrificed – and nobody talks about him – is Eric Dier because he played all the games in qualification.
“Since the start of the competition, we have not seen him.
“He can play both in the middle of the defence and as a midfielder. I don’t know why he has not been used at all.”
Walker admits he is still learning his new role, but is getting more comfortable with it .
And he says he could not care less what critics like Ferdinand say.
“He’s entitled to his opinion, but he wasn’t playing the game – so that’s it,” said Walker.
“It’s not that I ever felt uncomfortable about it but it was different.
“I don’t get as forward as much, which is a big part of my game, but I can use my pace in different areas to cover people and stuff like that.
“As long as I am on the pitch and as long as England as a nation is doing well then I’m completely fine with it.”