Arsenal have had an excellent start to the season. The Community Shield win against Liverpool was a huge confidence booster, and three wins in four Premier League games shows that they are on the right path.
Mikel Arteta’s first big test in the league this season was against the defending Premier League champions at Anfield. Arsenal were second best in every department on the night, but a win against the same opposition at the same place in the same week brought back a lot of positivity.
The Gunners’ next big test is coming up this weekend. Arteta faces his former employers Manchester City in a game that is huge for both teams. Pep Guardiola’s side have won just once this term and are 14th in the league.
City will be looking to make a statement on Saturday and Arsenal might have a problem going into the game. The Gunners are set to be without Kieran Tierney who is required to isolate until after the game against Manchester City this weekend.
Arsenal have been in talks with the Scottish FA, who are reportedly sympathetic to the Gunners’ position, but Scotland government’s rules make it clear that the former Celtic man has to remain indoors until at least the 21st of this month. (Guardian)
That is a humongous blow for Arsenal. Tierney’s versatility of playing as a left-sided centre-half while also driving down the flanks in attack has been a huge strength for Arteta in his system.
Arsenal are a better team when Tierney starts
Tactics aside, Tierney’s presence in Arsenal’s squad increases their chances of victory. Since joining the club, the 23-year-old has started 24 games in all competitions. The Gunners have lost just four of those games, and have a win rate of almost 60%.
Arsenal have scored 50 goals (2.08 per game) and have conceded 27 (1.12 per game) in the games he has started; a good record considering the circumstances. However, the Gunners truly tend to struggle when the Scotsman doesn’t start for them.
In the 35 games that he hasn’t started, Arsenal have won just 15 and have drawn 12 times. The win rate drops to a shade under 43%, a shocking record for a team aspiring to bring back their glory days.
The Gunners scored 52 goals (1.48 per game) and conceded 40 times in that period (1.14 per game); a poor record which cost Unai Emery his job just over three months into the start of last season.
Stats show that Arsenal are simply a better team with Tierney in their starting lineup. However, it seems unlikely that he will be able to return for the game against Manchester City this weekend, which makes the Gunners considerably weaker.
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