Arsenal vs Norwich City: 5 key players in homecoming fixture

2. Kieran Tierney

Kieran Tierney has made a massive leap up the key player list since proving that he can do so much, so effectively. We always knew this, of course, that’s why we bought him in the first place. He is a dynamic leftback, arguably one of the best in the world. He’s just not had a chance to really show it thus far.

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

But now that he has, we can start investing more and more hope in what he’s doing. Against Sheffield in particular, he was blazing down that left-hand side and his delivery was impeccable. He kept picking out the box, finding attackers, and turning danger into serious threats.

Plus, Nicolas Pepe began to read Tierney’s attacking moves better and better and we stopped seeing so many balls trickle all the way across the pitch. Tierney doesn’t fire at random, he picks out a target and the more he does that, the more his targets will make themselves easier to pick out.

Again, Pepe did it, more will come.

Tierney is going to start creating goals, don’t you worry about that. But we’re also counting on him to stifle the assist machine, Buendia. He’ll have his plate full, but he can also clear that plate.

No. 1 coming up.