Paul Arriola has been named to the MLS Team of the Week bench for Week 13 thanks to his strong showing against LAFC on Saturday. The Black-and-Red secured a 1-1 draw against the expansion side at Banc of California Stadium and Arriola was a force to be reckoned with in the midfield, disrupting LAFC in transition and serving as a primary chance creator on the attack.
The Chula Vista native got on the scoresheet for the fourth consecutive match on Saturday, dishing an 84th-minute assist. With the visitors down 1-0 and time running out, defender Joseph Mora made his way into the final third then sent a ball toward the far post, where Arriola out-jumped two defenders to win the aerial duel and headed a ball across to Darren Mattocks, who headed home the equalizer and secured the Black-and-Red another crucial point on the road.
Arriola now has four assists and one goal on the season. The 23-year-old has remained productive in each of his last four matches, assisting Ulises Segura against Columbus on April 14, scoring against Real Salt Lake on May 12, assisting Yamil Asad against San Jose on May 19, and most recently feeding Mattocks for the equalizer against LAFC.
While Arriola was a starter on the wing in the beginning of the season, he shifted inside for United's match at Real Salt Lake and has since remained in his new spot, thriving in the central role and becoming more involved on the attack.
See the full Week 13 MLS Team of the Week below.
F: Techera (VAN), Armenteros (POR), Elis (HOU)
M: Ibarra (MIN), Artur (CLB), Penilla (NE)
D: Acosta (RSL), McKenzie (PHI), Fuenmayor (HOU), Williams (CLB)
GK: Gonzalez (DAL)
Coach: Wilmer Cabrera (HOU)
Bench: MELIA SKC | MCLAIN CHI | PARKER RBNY | SILVA RSL | ARRIOLA D.C. | ALESSANDRINI LA | GORDON CHI
