Gerald Vanenburg praises Arkhan Fikri as world-class player

Indonesia U-23 national team coach Gerald Vanenburg has shared his assessment of midfielder Arkhan Fikri who is currently absent from the national team squad.

“I think he is a world-class player,” said Vanenburg. “I think if you can look at other players like Arkhan, I think he could play for big clubs because he has great qualities.”

Arkhan Fikri’s absence was felt when Indonesia U-23 faced Thailand in the ASEAN Cup U-23 2025 semifinals — the midfield didn’t perform as optimally as usual despite securing victory.

It’s not only the Indonesia U-23 national team that feels the loss of Arkhan Fikri — his club Arema FC is experiencing the same situation.