260 games in three of the world’s best four leagues, five games in the Champions League, 92 games in the national team, including two European Championships – Arnatovic has played on almost every major stage in his career. A major goal of the 32-year-old’s career has so far remained unfinished: participating in the World Cup final. 2022 in Qatar is probably her last chance, with Arnie turning 37 in the finals in Mexico and Canada in 2026. “We want to go to the World Cup in Qatar, that’s our big goal,” he explained clearly.

Team benefits from returning to Europe

Ernie subordinates everything to him. In the summer he returned to Europe – on the one hand because of the closeness with his family, on the other, to play again at a higher level, not to make long trips to the team. “It takes me 50 minutes by plane, and about 600 kilometers by car from Bologna,” says Arni. There is no comparison to his long journeys from China.

Ernie doesn’t care about records – focus on participating in the World Cup

With 92 team appearances, he is only 11 short of record holder Andreas Herzog, only one behind the top 3 with 28 international goals. But the records are “totally irrelevant” to him at the moment. “It is important that I can help the team, after two European Championships we want to show ourselves on the big stage, the World Championships,” says Arnoutovic. Proof again: The desert World Cup is the Viennese’s last major career goal.