Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised Nuno Tavares on Premier League Productions for his performance against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium last night.
Arteta was impressed by how Tavares played with courage and quality in what was his first Premier League start of the season.
Arsenal won 3-1.
The Arsenal boss said on Premier League Productions: “It was really impressive, what those two (Tavares and Lokonga) did, especially Nuno.
“It was the first start in the Premier League, to play with the courage, with the physicality, with the quality that he did today, it’s a credit to the boy.”
How did Nuno Tavares play?
Tavares got his chance against Villa in the Premier League last night due to injury to Kieran Tierney.
Tierney is the first-choice left-back at Arsenal and plays when he is fit and available.
However, the performance of Tavares was really very good.
The 21-year-old showed against Villa last night that he is ready to challenge Tierney.
The Portugal Under-21 international was a real attacking threat down the left and combined brilliantly with Emile Smith Rowe.
The youngster took three shots and one was on target, played one key pass, had a pass accuracy of 83.3%, won two headers, took 66 touches, made two tackles and three clearances, and put in four crosses.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that he does not know when Tierney will be back from his latest injury.
Perhaps Tavares is now set for an extended run in the team.
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