Arsenal: Kieran Tierney scouting report from The Celtic Bhoys

Arsenal signed left-back Kieran Tierney on transfer deadline day last week. We got Kade Kistner of The Celtic Bhoys to give us his take on the latest acquisition.

Arsenal signed Kieran Tierney on transfer deadline day in a £25 million move. The Scottish international signed to solve the left-back position for the next decade. But is he good enough? We spoke to Kade Kistner of The Celtic Bhoys to dive into the nitty-gritty of Tierney’s game. Here is what he had to say:

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22-year-old left-back Kieran Tierney was a highly sought after commodity during this summer’s transfer window. Despite having a double hernia repair surgery in the offseason, his value remained at an all-time high, and for good reason.

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Tierney is not only a great defensive player, but he was routinely called upon during his time with Celtic to act as a left wing-back. He skills at each end of the pitch could be considered elite, with his defensive qualities indisputable. What separates him from other left-backs in Celtic’s squad and the Scottish Premier League as a whole, however, is his midfield transition skills.

Tierney can be described in three words: fast, intelligent, and pace. This is what makes him so adept at progressing the play through the midfield third. He is unparalleled in this aspect of his game due to his speed.

Tierney has also accepted the position of tutelage for most of his life. His football IQ is unequivocally one of the highest in Scotland. He is able to anticipate when to attack, but importantly, is able to react to split-second game-time decisions in regards to his opponent’s moves. In other words, Tierney is playing chess while his opponent is beginning to learn checkers.

Finally, while many see his pace as unsustainable, especially if the injuries begin to pile up, this pace is another reason Tierney separates himself from the pack. Tierney is unyielding as a competitor, something that will help him in his transition to the more competitive English Premier League, and his quickness up and down the flank helps him consistently win one-on-one duels.

One attribute Tierney owns which is tough to quantify is leadership. While his defensive and offensive capabilities can be plugged into a formula for debate, arguably his best quality cannot. At such a young age, Tierney demonstrated that he can and will take on multiple roles despite the challenge. He has served as a team leader on and off the field during his time with Celtic.

All three of these attributes combine to create a world-class left-back. It is understandable to see why Arsenal has continually pursued Tierney though the entirety of the offseason despite a significant injury. Even with the uptick in competition level, Tierney should perform admirably with his new club in the English Premier League.

Our thanks to Kade Kistner for his time. You can check The Celtic Bhoys blog out here.