By Alistair Aird
On Saturday, Scott Arfield became a centurion, netting the 100th and 101st goals of his career. That takes his goals tally to eight in just nine appearances for Championship champions-elect, Falkirk. Arfield left Rangers in the summer of 2023 after making 233 appearances for the club. Forty-three of his career goals came when he was a Rangers player. Admittedly, at the age of 36, the Canadian international is very much on the back nine of his career. But would he still have had an impact at Ibrox? Was he let go too soon?
Scott Arfield signed for Rangers from Burnley in May 2018. He was the first signing made by Steven Gerrard, and he penned a four-year deal. Aged 29, Arfield looked like a shrewd piece of business by the incoming Gerrard. He had played in all 46 games as Burnley secured promotion as champions of the English Championship in season 2015/16, and in terms of experience of playing in the English Premiership, Arfield had chalked up 86 appearances, scored five goals and provided two assists for the Clarets.
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Arfield made his competitive debut for Rangers in the 2-0 win over FC Shkupi at Ibrox, but his night ended 23 minutes early when he picked up a knock and was replaced by Ovie Ejaria. That counted him out of the return leg and the first leg of the second qualifying round when Rangers beat Borna Barisic’s Osijek by a goal to nil.
Arfield returned for the last 15 minutes of the second leg against Osijek – Barisic gained the distinction of becoming the first player to breach the Rangers defence in a competitive match under Gerrard – and his first full 90 minutes followed three days later when Rangers faced Aberdeen at Pittodrie in the opening league match of the season.
Arfield played a pivotal role in Gerrard’s first season. He missed only eight league games, and his goal return of 11 included a hat-trick against Motherwell at Fir Park in April. Arfield also scored the second goal of the final Old Firm league match of the season after the split, sliding on his knees afterwards and performing what was fast becoming his trademark ‘salute you’ celebration.
The only blot on Arfield’s copybook was a red card against Hearts at Tynecastle, but in season 2019/20, he would again show his importance to the Rangers team and the Gerrard masterplan. The season would of course be truncated due to the coronavirus pandemic, but before the campaign was curtailed, Arfield played in 26 of the 30 league fixtures. He also played a part in all but one of the 18 Europa League matches Rangers contested.
An ankle injury counted Arfield out of 10 league games in the ’55’ season, but in the 28 league appearances he did make, Scotty scored four times and claimed five assists. However, 17 of those 28 appearances came from the substitute’s bench, an early indication that Arfield was perhaps being bracketed as an impact player, someone who could come on and change a game rather than influence it from the start.
When you look at the stats under Gerrard, you can see how important Scott Arfield was. He is fifth on the list that records most appearances, his 153 being less than Connor Goldson (182), James Tavernier (168), Alferdo Morelos (158), and Allan McGregor (156). Arfield’s tally of 29 goals ranks him fourth in the list of top scorers under Gerrard. Only Morelos (83), Tavernier (42) and Jermain Defoe (32) are ahead of him. And when it comes to assists –18– only Tavernier (62), Morelos (36), Barisic (33), Ryan Kent (32) and Ianis Hagi (20) created more goals for Rangers when Gerrard was manager.
But perhaps to reinforce the tag of ‘impact player’, Arfield shares top spot when it comes to coming off the bench under Gerrard. His 41 appearances as sub are tied with Defoe. Arfield also ranks highly when it comes to being subbed off too. Only Morelos (64) and Kent (60) were replaced more often than Scotty (47).
When Gerrard left in November 2021 and was replaced by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Arfield remained an integral part of the squad. In season 2021/22, he scored four goals in 29 league appearances – 11 of which were as sub – and featured in 14 of the 17 matches played on the Road to Seville. He scored one of the penalties in the ill-fated shoot-out against Eintracht Frankfurt too.
In a similar analysis to the one conducted for Gerrard’s time as manager, Arfield’s numbers once again illustrate his importance. Only James Tavernier (64) played more times under Gio than Scotty, whose 58 appearances included 27 from the bench. Just like it was under Gerrard, that tops the ‘appearances as sub’ table, Arfield sharing top spot with Fashion Sakala. And Arfield also ties with Sakala when it comes to goals scored. Their tallies of nine leave them joint fourth behind Tavernier (23), Morelos (14) and Antonio Colak (14).
But the Arfield influence started to wane during season 2022/23. Only seven of his 31 Premiership appearances were as part of the starting XI, although he did start in four of the six Champions League group matches. His opening goal against Liverpool at Ibrox gave the home side hope of a famous win, but Mo Salah unfortunately had other ideas.
At the end of the season, Arfield’s contract wasn’t renewed. Under Michael Beale, he only made 20 appearances, 18 of which were from the sub’s bench. That’s the same number as Scott Wright and Malik Tillman. Thirteen players were selected more often than Arfield, and only Wright (19) was substituted on more than Arfield.
In total, Scott Arfield made 233 appearances for Rangers, scored 43 goals and claimed 19 assists. Since leaving Ibrox, he has played 33 times for Charlotte in the MLS and 19 times for Bolton Wanderers. And he has recently come full circle, rejoining the club where it all started for him, Falkirk. He will almost certainly play in Scotland’s top flight again next season.
I believe that Beale dropped the ball – not for the first or indeed last time – when he let Arfield leave. The numbers show that Scotty was becoming peripheral, but he still had the ability, guile and nous to come on and influence the outcome of a game and swing it in the favour of Rangers. He has shown that recently with Falkirk and I have no doubt that he will trouble defences in the Premiership next season at the ripe old age of 37.
A player who has been there done that and got the T-shirt. One who loves our club and shed blood, sweat and tears when he pulled on a Rangers jersey. He wouldn’t be a starter but having him in and around the place and on the bench to pitch in when required would undoubtedly make this ragged and rudderless Rangers squad better.
Scotty Arfield, congratulations on your 100th career goal. I’d take you back in a heartbeat.
