There is also adaptability. After playing in the three quarters during Arsenal’s desperate need to win in Southampton midweek, Tierney was moved further forward to play as a full back and provided his team with an attacking threat – and a willingness to return and defend that it was not universally shared by his teammates.
The Scotsman was involved in most of Arsenal’s best moments – it was from his passing at the foot of Alexandre Lacazette that the first-half penalty was granted and scored and provided the smart low cross from which Nicolas Pepe should have doubled the score.
That delivery was typical of Tierney’s work. Having a clean and tidy possession, maintaining his position and being able to identify a teammate, he distinguished himself in what was an Arsenal victory desperately needed but not particularly convincing and lucky enough, which however leads them to the quarterfinals of the Cup of England. There was too often an air of panic around them, especially in defense, and Sheffield United was out of luck. They had two “goals” rightly excluded from the offside, but there were other opportunities especially in the second half that dominated. After giving the penalty kick, Chris Basham was also guilty of a blatant defeat with a header and as they eventually reached the level they were canceled by Dani Ceballos’ escape as they chased victory.
Tierney had to wait for his chance in his first season at Arsenal since his £ 25m transfer from Celtic. The club’s outages, season breaks and injuries have all held him back, but he is said to have made his first appearances under Arteta since shooting and, in fact, has been involved in all four games.
His attitude and competitive spirit seem to mark him, especially in this squalid Arsenal team, and after captaining Celtic and Scotland at the age of 21 it is not imaginative to think that one day he will pull the armband for Arsenal – and maybe not too far into the future.
“It really is an old school, Kieran,” his former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers once said. It appears on the field and – perhaps with a carrying bag – even outside. But Arteta has a lot of work to do with those around Tierney, as has been shown with Sheffield United’s goal of a draw – a gift from all three halves.
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