EXCLUSIVE I Angers’ Carlens Arcus: ‘Being a lowly team doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t want to play football’

When he was younger, Carlens Arcus (30) had two dreams: becoming a professional footballer and competing in a World Cup. Whilst he achieved the first one around ten years ago, fulfilling the second required a great deal of patience. And, above all, a lot of hard work. But it was undeniably worthwile the effort.

In the summer of 2026, 52 years after the legendary ‘74 generation, Haiti finally returned to the world football’s premier tournament. “Playing in a World Cup with my country? I couldn’t have hoped for anything better,” said Arcus to Get French Football News in an interview facilitated by LFP Media’s international department.

And nothing – not even the three defeats suffered by The Grenadiers during the group stage – could take away the inherent sense of pride associated with this historic event. “Haiti deserved this. We did it for the Haitian community. When I see my family and the way they experienced it, it really warmed my heart. These are moments I’ll never forget,” smiles the defender.

The moment marked a clear milestone for the player, but also for Haitian football, which Arcus believes is entering a period of great growth. “I witnessed it during the last gathering. We have a very close-knit, motivated team, and a coach who brings his energy, positivity and experience. We have everything we need to keep this momentum going,” he asserts. “With our players and those who want to join us – because we always need good players to strengthen the squad – and the mentality we’re building, I think we’re set to achieve some great things.”

For Haiti, another chance to celebrate their national team is on the horizon. Having qualified for the quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Nations League for the first time in their history, David Badía’s side will have the opportunity, when they face the United States this coming November, to write a new chapter in the rich history of Haitian football.

“It’s a major challenge that we’re approaching with the belief that we can achieve something great. We’re not ruling anything out,” states Arcus. This challenge, the Angers SCO player and his team-mates will nevertheless have to face once again away from home, since Haiti currently lack sports facilities that meet international standards and given the country’s security situation, making it difficult to organise large-scale events.

Understandably, this is a frustrating situation, both for the players and for the Haitian people, despite the exceptional arrangement reached between CONCACAF and the Haitian Football Federation to host the first leg of the quarter-final at the NU Stadium in Miami, where several thousand Grenadiers supporters are expected to cheer on their team.

“It would be a lie to say it doesn’t affect us,” concedes Arcus. “When you see the enthusiasm of the diaspora around the world, you realise it would be even more special to experience this at home, with our supporters, in front of our families.”

Though he has already had the opportunity to play in Haiti, some of his teammates regret not yet having had that chance. “It’s something I understand, as it’s such an incredible feeling,” explains Arcus. “But when we wear this shirt, no matter where we are, we have to play with the desire to represent Haiti’s colours with the utmost pride and passion. That’s what we’ll always continue to do, even when playing away from home.”

Arcus, perhaps even more so than anyone else, is perfectly positioned to understand this, having been entrusted with the captain’s armband for the first time back in September. “I’ve been in the national team for ten years now. I’ve experienced it all! So it’s definitely an achievement, a great honour.”

And whilst he does not yet know whether he will retain this role in the future, the 60-time international is not putting any pressure on himself. “It doesn’t change what I can bring to the team, both on and off the pitch, and I’ll continue to do so with or without the armband,” he explains.

But before contemplating a return to the Haitian national team, Arcus is focused on the two Ligue 1 matches he has left to play with Angers before the break.

Currently sitting 14th in the table after eight matchdays, SCO have had a challenging start to the season, highlighted by two recent heavy defeats against Stade Brestois 29 (5-1) and Olympique de Marseille (5-2). Yet Angers managed to halt this run of poor form last week with a 0-0 draw away at FC Lorient.

It was a solid performance, marked by the introduction, for the first time this season, of a five-man defence – a tactical adjustment that Arcus was keen to praise. “We achieved what we’d set out to do, which was to keep a clean sheet. We’d really focused on the defensive side of things, because we’d conceded a lot of goals in the last two matches. Keeping a clean sheet did us a world of good, particularly mentally.”

Regarding whether this ‘new’ system will be carried over in the coming weeks, Arcus doesn’t seem particularly worried. He emphasises the importance of Angers’ ability to adapt to the strategies of each opponent.

“What I can say is that we’re ready – ready to listen and do what the coaching staff ask of us. The team can offer a wide range of options. In my view, that’s what makes us strong,” he stresses. “As far as we’re concerned – the players – the most important thing, and the thing we need to control, is our aggressiveness, team spirit and intensity. As the coach often tells us, it doesn’t matter what system we use – whether it’s a back four or a back five, it doesn’t matter. The main thing is not to forget our values.”

Stéphane Gilli is now tasked with instilling these values in his players. Appointed this summer as head coach to succeed Alexandre Dujeux, who left for Lorient, the 52-year-old manager is increasingly earning the trust of his squad.

“Humanly speaking, he’s a good person. He’s approachable, easy to talk to – he’s very open-minded – and treats everyone equally, placing particular emphasis on solidarity, on defending together and attacking together,” Arcus points out. “From a tactical point of view, he’s brought his own ideas with him. He’s a manager who wants to keep possession, no matter who the opposition is. It’s a mindset that we, as players, embrace and support. Being a lowly team doesn’t necessarily mean we don’t want to play football.”

And even though the defender feels that “our eagerness to attack and mismanagement of certain challenging phases” may have “let us down a little” in some matches, he prefers to focus on the positives. “We need to strike the right balance, but I think we’re on the right track,” says Arcus, who, like his teammates, is also pleased to have seen “several young players come into the team”.

“I care deeply about youth. It’s very important to help them. We live in a world where everything can move very quickly. And I think I have a bit of perspective – that sort of ‘wisdom’ – when it comes to that, so I can give them advice. I may not be the most vocal presence in the dressing room, but I talk to them outside it; I try to make them aware of things they might overlook. It’s something that’s close to my heart. We’ve got some very good young players and they’re the ones who will represent the club in the future.”

Representing the club… and why not take them to the next level? Arcus believes it’s possible. “It’s not always easy operating with one of the smallest budgets in the league. However, I think we’ve shown that we can compete with teams that, on paper, are superior,” he remarks, whilst acknowledging that there is still a long way to go before the club can establish themselves amongst the big names.

“I think that, in Ligue 1, if we really want to break into the top 10, we need to raise our standards. In terms of intensity, concentration and managing the ebb and flow of a match, there are loads of little details that have slipped our attention in games where that really shouldn’t have been the case,” notes Angers’ number 2.

“It’s by ironing out these kinds of flaws that we’ll be able to challenge some very good teams. But I know we’re not far off. We’re working towards it, in any case. And I really hope that in the coming years, we’ll not only make it into the top 10 but also solidify our position there.”

Until that happens, Arcus keeps making his own steps forward. Like when, in early September, the defender finally managed to score his first goal for Angers against Stade Rennais. “It was a moment that really meant a lot to me,” recalls the player, who isn’t usually one to light up the scoreboard, but who wouldn’t “say no” to the idea of “netting a few more goals.” “I’m a defender, so I’m expected to defend. So yes, contributing going forward is always positive. But as I always say, the team objectives take precedence. Anything beyond that is just a bonus.”

That idea of ‘bonus’ resonates strongly into its own when he shares about the potential dreams he still has left to fulfil. “This is the first time I’ve been asked this (about his remaining dreams) since the World Cup, and to be honest, I don’t want to mix up objectives and dreams.”

“In my view, a dream is something that, even when you think about it, seems almost too good to be true. It’s something deeply meaningful, something you have to go a long way to find,” details Arcus. “Today, thank God, I’ve been able to realize my two biggest dreams: becoming a professional and playing in a World Cup.”

But don’t go thinking that the Haitian intends to rest on his laurels. “As a competitor, I still have plenty of objectives to achieve,” he smiles. “The biggest of all is to be able to keep playing at the very highest level for several more years. With the mental and physical demands, it’s not always easy, but I aspire to still be competing at 37 or 38.”

And whilst “playing for a big club, in a major league” is also on his wish list, Arcus primarly hopes above all to one day have the opportunity to “play in a major tournament with Haiti again.” Whatever the case, it’s a safe bet that the 2028 Copa América is already in the back of his mind.

GFFN | Léo Aschi