Arsenal Vs Southampton: 5 things we learned – Job done

3. Kieran Tierney shows what has been missing

Inserted into the starting XI in place of Sead Kolasinac, but still playing a half left centre-back half left-back role, Kieran Tierney showed what Mikel Arteta wants from the more reserve full-back position: composure, consistency, and tempo-setting distribution.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

The Scottish international was excellent in possession. He played a lovely early pass over the top for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who then crashed his shot against the crossbar. He played another lovely switch of play to Hector Bellerin later in the first half. Routinely, when Arsenal were able to break out of the Southampton pressure, it came from Tierney playing a key pass into central midfield.

You could certainly question whether this is Tierney’s best position. He is a terrific crosser and can be an offensive threat when pushing into the final third. In this more conservative manner, Tierney does not bomb forwards as he did earlier in the season. He remains deep in his starting position and shuttles possession forwards, rather than creating from advanced wide areas.

Nevertheless, Tierney’s position aided Arsenal’s domination of possession, helped the team play out from the back, and provided the protection to allow Bukayo Saka to drift into the wide channel from central midfield. This is the left-back impact Arteta wants, and Tierney is the ideal player to provide it.