Martin Keown lauded Kieran Tierney on MOTD2 (BBC One, 26/9, 22:48) for the way that the Arsenal defender wanted to make an impact against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Tierney helped to inspire a 3-1 win for Mikel Arteta’s side in the north London derby with a dangerous display. The full-back consistently pushed up the Gunners’ left-hand channel to offer an additional attacking outlet.
He overlapped with Emil Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Martin Odegaard throughout the Emirates Stadium clash. Delivering a handful of dangerous deliveries into Hugo Lloris’ penalty area and created a promising early opening for Aubameyang.
Tierney was not only influential on the front foot either, as he helped Arsenal keep Lucas Moura quiet. The Tottenham winger repeatedly sought to push forward but to little effect, bar a late shot that Aaron Ramsdale tipped onto the crossbar after a deflection.
Tierney impressed Keown
But while Tierney was solid at full-back, the Arsenal defender impressed Keown with his attacking input against Tottenham. The Gunners icon lauded the Scotland international’s ability to charge down the wing and his desire to make a difference.
Keown additionally noted how Smith Rowe’s free-roaming role made it difficult for Spurs to keep a check on Tierney. With the Hale Ender creating space for Arteta’s plans to play out.
“It just kept happening,” he said. “Smith Rowe comes all the way across [to the right], it’s really difficult to deal with and that’s the signal for Tierney to get down the left-hand side. They’re nice and patient in their build-up, taking control. There’s a hunger about them.
“Look at this, this young man wants to make things happen at Arsenal. He’s whistling down that left-hand side. And this is a goal, this is a brilliant move, a give-and-go with Smith Rowe. No one going with him and again, it’s the same four [Odegaard, Aubameyang, Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka getting forward].”
Tierney was impressive, but not perfect
Tierney certainly impressed against Tottenham to warrant Keown’s praise, but the Arsenal defender was not perfect. His deliveries in the early stages were frequently wayward when a better final ball could have delt damage much sooner.
Yet his willingness to push up the field forced Spurs’ defenders to react and shift across the pitch. Creating more space in the centre for Aubameyang, Odegaard and Smith Rowe to target. The £110k-a-week defender’s work to keep Moura quiet also proved key for Arteta.
Tierney – together with Granit Xhaka – ensured Moura struggled to make any major impact until it was too late for Tottenham. His work exploiting the space behind Japhet Tanganga also forced Nuno Espirito Santo to substitute his defender at half-time.
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