The 16-year-old and his England U17s team-mates are in Sarasota preparing for Friday’s opening match with host nation USA, before going on to face Brazil and Australia.
The experience will no doubt be hugely beneficial for those involved, but it is one Arnold has tasted before – although he is targeting a sweeter result than the 5-1 defeat he suffered as part of the England U16s setup 12 months ago.
USA v England
Nike U17 International Tournament
11pm GMT, Friday 28 November
Premier Sports Campus, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota
“Hopefully we’ll do better than we did last year. There is quite a few of us in this squad, including myself, who came here with the U16s last year,” the Liverpool youngster explained.
“We had a bad result last time against the US, but I think this time we have a much better chance of getting a result and hopefully gaining a little bit of revenge.”
Speaking to TheFA.com at their team hotel in Sarasota, Arnold continued: “They’re quite a physical side – but they like to play their football too.
“I don’t think we expected them to be quite so good last year, but we’ll be a lot better prepared for what they can throw at us on Friday.
“We have to stay focused on the game and not let the crowd get into our heads – that’s what matters most.
“I think it affected us last year and the pressure got to us, but it will be different this time as we are used to it and we have learned from that.”
Arnold was a regular in the England set-up at U16s level, but he has not represented his country since the Nordics in the summer.
Having missed out on playing in the St. George’s Park Tournament in August and October’s European Championship qualifiers, he says he wants to use the three games in the States to show head coach John Peacock what he can do.
“I’m happy to be back in the squad – I want to be a regular,” he admitted.
“It was obviously disappointing not to be included for the Euro qualifiers, but now I know that if I can make my mark this time around then hopefully I’ll be in John’s next squad.
Yan Dhanda (left) and Herbie Kane (right) with Liverpool team-mate Trent Arnold at the Nordics
“It’s going to be a different style of football than what we are used to back at home, facing players from Brazil and other parts of the world, and it’s something me and the rest of the lads will definitely learn from.”
And having plied his trade previously at full-back, this season Arnold has moved forward into a midfield role.
He said: “I still like playing in defence, and if the team need me to go in at the back then I can, but I do like playing in midfield.
“I like to think I’m a good passer of the ball, and that I can find passes that maybe others can’t see – which is an important attribute for any midfielder to have.”
He added: “I’ve scored a few this season at Liverpool too, but I still haven’t got one for England – hopefully I change that this tournament.”
