If Hellberg sticks with a back three, Arfsten appears to have the clearer runway. He has been used wide, can carry the ball and arrives with a reputation for end product in advanced areas. That matters in a Championship season where wing-backs often decide whether a system feels expansive or flat.
The question is the other side of the job.
Berhalter may face the heavier scrutiny. Reports suggest the departure of Hayden Hackney has opened a vacancy in midfield, and that is not an easy role to inherit. Berhalter is generally viewed as tidy in possession, useful on set plays and competitive enough for a physical division.
What matters now is authority.
That is the real test, more than the label of being a recent United States international.
The report says both players could make their official debuts against Wrexham in the first round of the EFL Cup. If that happens, it will offer an early look at whether Hellberg’s ideas translate quickly for two MLS-developed signings stepping into a tougher, less forgiving environment.
For Middlesbrough, the next storyline is simple: promising fit on paper is one thing; turning that into points before the promotion race hardens is another.