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Arsenal: Is Kieran Tierney really that good?
By Josh Sippie
Kieran Tierney has played all of 76 minutes for Arsenal, and my only question after seeing those minutes is… is he really that good?
Something happened against Nottingham Forest. Something I hadn’t felt in ages of watching Arsenal play. I have been impressed by players plenty of times, but seeing Kieran Tierney‘s inaugural display, all I could think was… is he really that good? Could he really be as good as he is playing?
It seems asinine. Of course he’s as good as he’s playing, that’s how he’s able to play that way. But it was “just” Forest.
That said, he was “just” coming off of an injury, and as we should know good and well from years of having to see it from the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, coming back from injury usually means rust and significant acclimation.
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Tierney wasn’t just coming off an injury, he was coming into his first match ever in an Arsenal shirt, and he looked dy-no-miiiite.
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The dude was a one man wrecking crew. He did everything. He won his challenges, he created chances, he sprayed long balls and, my favorite of all, he wasn’t reckless. Like… at all. It’s so frustrating when a defender gets forward, is dispossessed, and then has to huff and puff to get back on defense.
Spoiler alert, they never make it back in time.
Tierney only lost the ball once. He was rarely found out of position. Yet he kept up a continuous threat throughout the course of the match and looked quick, intelligent and deadly with the ball.
So again I ask… is he really that good?
It’s not clear whether or not he will be available against Manchester United, but that would certainly help in answering my question. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Sead Kolasinac, but seeing Tierney out there, I was more excited for him to get out there and replace Kolasinac than I have been to see a new signing in quite some time. Simply because of his dazzling display of dynamism and defense.
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As I always say, you can only make the most of what’s given to you, and Tierney did that and then some. So give him more, and let’s see if he keeps making more of it than what he’s given. I really can’t wait to see what he can do next. And it’s only been 76 minutes.