Arsenal: Kieran Tierney will be a legend

New Arsenal signing Kieran Tierney has made two starts this season and looked mightily impressive in both. He has all the makings of a club legend.

Sometimes, you can just tell. The way a man walks. The way he drives forward. The aggression pouring out his flared nostrils. The put-together manner of his tucked-in shirt that says ‘I am going to beat you up but look presentable while doing it’. Kieran Tierney is going to be an Arsenal legend.

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Now, I know what you are all thinking. He has played two games. He only finished one of them. How on earth can you be so sure? The accurate answer is that I cannot. But the fan-inspired answer is that it has already been decided.

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On Thursday night, in an emphatic 4-0 victory over Standard Liege, Tierney made his second start. He was once again excellent. He assisted the first goal with a lovely shift and cross that Gabriel Martinelli flashed into the far corner with a glancing header, created four chances in total, a team-high figure, completed 100% of his dribbles, which were integral to breaking away from the high press, won three of his four tackle attempts, maintained a 93% pass completion rate, and was dispossessed only once. He has also completed 35.4% of his crosses across both performances, showing terrific accuracy with his delivery.

After the match, head coach Unai Emery was glowing in his assessment:

"“Kieran [Tierney] after his injury is coming back with a good attitude. He played last week against Nottingham Forest for 80 minutes with a good performance, and tonight was another very good performance. We are a better competitive team with him and with Sead Kolasinac at left back. We are happy with him.”"

However, perhaps more than any particular aspect of his performance, what was most encouraging about Tierney’s outing was the manner of it, especially the controlled aggression and team-focused attitude of his actions.

After Martinelli was fouled in the 85th minute, the match well and truly over, it was Tierney who was straight over to contend with the Liege defender — the tackle was late and a little uncalled for, but not all that nasty. Tierney was supporting, and in essence protecting, his teammate. His performance was excellent, yes, but his attitude was even more encouraging.

And all this comes at only 22 years of age, coming off a sports hernia operation, in a match that many might be overawed by. This is only his second time playing in an Arsenal shirt, remember. Contrast the confidence and conviction he played with to Nicolas Pepe, who seems a little shellshocked by price and expectation.

Tierney is everything that you could ask for in a modern-day full-back. It is an easy comparison, but he is Andy Robertson lite. And as long as he stays fit, playing as he has done, he will be an Arsenal legend in no time.