The Black-and-Red had high expectations for Designated Player Paul Arriola in 2018 as the midfielder entered his first full season with D.C. United. Arriola joined United in August 2017 in a transfer from Mexican side Club Tijuana, and started in the Black-and-Red’s final eleven matches last season, tallying two assists and a goal before its conclusion. Despite a disappointing 2017 overall, Arriola was a player that sparked hope among supporters, and the midfielder got a chance to show the many ways in which he can contribute to the club moving forward in the 2018 season.
In his first full MLS campaign, Arriola played a variety of roles for the Black-and-Red, using his versatility to fill different team needs based on strategy, available personnel, and opponents. He appeared in 28 of United’s 34 matches this year and earned 25 starts. Arriola was a critical part of the Black-and-Red's multidimensional attack, but he also filled in at right back when the team struggled with injuries, stepping up with confidence when the team needed him to shift positions.
Arriola entered the season hoping to prove that he could produce more on offense, and succeeded, netting seven goals and adding eight assists. He recorded braces in the Audi Field inaugural match against Vancouver and the 5-0 rout over Montreal, and contributed the game-winning assist in April's victory over Columbus. Following the late-September injury to defender Oniel Fisher, Arriola dropped into the back line for most of the remainder of the season and showed his skill on both sides of the ball. The same pace and scrappiness that allowed Arriola excel on the attack helped him shut down opponents on defense, and his willingness to fill in in the back helped United continue their late-season playoff push and clinch their postseason berth.
Arriola's performances earned him a number of MLS Team of the Week honors throughout the season, including nods after United's wins over Atlanta and Vancouver, and their draws at Toronto and LAFC. The midfielder also won MLS' Goal of the Week award in Week 16, when he scored against Toronto at BMO Field with a beautiful run into the box and a sprawling header.
The 23-year-old continued to draw the attention of the US Men’s National Team this season, earning a call-up for the Stars & Stripes' friendlies against Bosnia & Herzegovina in January, and Brazil and Mexico in September. As the US attempt to lay a young foundation for the country's future success on the international stage, Arriola hopes to be a cornerstone in the National Team's plan moving forward.
Arriola was a key playmaker behind United's 2018 rise, and will again be called upon to contribute in a variety of ways heading into the 2019 season. One of the best American attackers in the league and a top USMNT prospect, Arriola's first full season in D.C. was a productive one, but he hopes it's only the beginning of a successful and memorable career in the District.
