Arsenal: Kieran Tierney a decade-cementing talent

Unai Emery has reportedly stepped up his interest in Kieran Tierney. The Celtic left-back is a decade-cementing talent for Arsenal at a crucial position.

Liverpool have the two best full-backs in the Premier League. They cost a combined £8 million — it always helps when one comes from your own academy, of course. What is most ideal for Jurgen Klopp as he looks to add to his squad and fill out his team, he does not have to worry about either of his full-back positions.

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Andy Robertson turned 25 in March. Trent Alexander-Arnold is still only 20. Liverpool have both full-back positions locked down for the best part of a decade. That provides great freedom for Klopp, knowing that he can neglect the full-back position and invest heavily in other positions without having to worry about the quality he has available.

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Having young, high-quality players at positions frees up a manager to focus on the other needs of his team, especially if those positions are ones like full-back that do not change all that much with regards to the shape and system. You have to have a variety of central midfielders, lots of different wingers, a variety of strikers. The same is not true for full-back, for one of the two centre-back positions or for goalkeeper, for example. This means that, within reason, you can lock them down.

With Hector Bellerin the entrenched starter at right-back, presuming he recovers well from a torn ACL that he suffered last season, Arsenal, like Liverpool, have the opportunity to lock down both of their full-back positions this summer. All they need is a young, talented, reliable left-back. And it seems as though Unai Emery has found his man: Celtic’s Kieran Tierney.

Per recent reports, Emery has highlighted Tierney to the Arsenal board as a critical investment this summer. The 22-year-old left-back could be signed for approximately £20 million and Emery believes that he has the ability to make a similar transition to Virgil van Dijk, Victory Wanyama and even Andy Robertson, from the SPL and into the Premier League.

Certainly, his performances for Celtic suggest he has the skill set to handle the Premier League. Built in the mould of a typical modern-day full-back, he is quick, strong, possesses terrific stamina, provides offensive output, delivers a wicked cross, and is secure and stable defensively. The only worry is whether he is able to handle the step up in competition, but even then, his Champions League experience puts that to rest somewhat.

And most importantly, he is only 22. In fact, not just that, he only turned 22 two weeks ago. So, not only is Tierney one of the best full-backs in European football in recent seasons, but he has the potential to be Arsenal’s starting left-back for the next decade, just like Robertson, Alexander-Arnold and, crucially, Bellerin.

Tierney offers Emery the chance to lock down his full-back positions, just as Klopp has done on Merseyside. When it comes to team building, that is a substantial advantage, one that Arsenal should not be hesitating to make happen.