Arsenal: Nuno Tavares opens up very real Kieran Tierney debate

Nuno Tavares Form is Brilliant for Arsenal – And for Kieran Tierney

While this debate has already merged into a two-man shootout, the important point to make is that this is brilliant news. Before diving into who thinks what and who deserves that, from the club’s perspective seeing the £6.8m signing plucked from the Benfica bench perform as he has behind one of Arsenal’s most beloved cast members is success in itself.

Nobody would have envisaged this even being a conversation so soon into the campaign and the early inklings of what was a very raw Nuno in need of a fair amount of coaching and development only substantiated that idea further.

A big part of the discussion is down to Tierney’s form. It hasn’t been the best of starts to the season for the 24-year-old who’s been nowhere near as assured as he had done in 2020/21. While never a masterful passer of the ball, his ground distribution has faltered, and even his crossing has been suspect. In general, his influence has been minimal.

Why, though? This is someone who Arsenal couldn’t play without; someone whose name was first on many peoples’ team sheet.

Whether his regular usage for Scotland and endless usage for Arsenal is taking its toll or not, he hasn’t helped himself. But, there have been systematic issues with some nuance that has played their part too.

Positionally he sits too high up the pitch to receive the ball. Early in build-up all the passes played into him are taken on the backfoot where his starting position limits his options that follow. Known for his drives down the line with that two-touch dash – it’s his superpower – he does to beat his man, the passes are now rarely ever in front of him. It means he can’t be a left-back.

Does having no Granit Xhaka to play those left footed through balls impact this? Possibly.

On the debate of who should play, there is a fine line to draw between recency bias and form. Tavares has played very well in two matches, but does two matches constitute form? Equally, Tierney has played poorly for most of the season, so that definitely is form.

Yet how Arsenal played and how they used their full-backs against Villa and Leicester would have suited Tierney. No doubt about it. He’d have flourished in those games whether he’s been off the boil or not.

Nuno is running him close and the concept of meritocracy mustn’t be abandoned. Yet for an all round package who is on song, Tierney does the simpler elements neater, adds leadership at the back and has proven himself capable of performing at a high level. He’s dragged his side up through the mire when they’ve been at their lowest ebb, and recorded the second highest xA and key passes in the entire team last term.

His fellow left-back’s superb form is the wake-up call he needs. But it’s his call to answer.

If the Scot hasn’t recovered by Watford and Nuno is brilliant once more, then the scale may tip more to one side. Yet for experience, leadership and a more rounded overall ability, Tierney remains Tierney.