Arsenal: Nuno Tavares opens up very real Kieran Tierney debate

Assessing all six of the summer signings made by Arsenal, bottom of the pile in terms of, to put it bluntly, significance, fell to Nuno Tavares.

Aaron Ramsdale was a peculiar one due to him arriving as a perceived backup, yet for the money parted with it was always felt there would be a gradual integration into the starting lineup; Bernd Leno was never going to stay beyond the current campaign.

In midfield there is Mikel Arteta‘s preferred partnership of Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, which meant Albert Sambi Lokonga would also play a bit-part role. However, the latter’s injury issues and the lack of depth in that department also signaled that the Belgian would get a fair crack of the whip. It’s transpired, albeit primarily because of the Swiss.

Martin Odegaard was an essential purchase due to the lack of creativity; Ben White was always going to be first choice at right centre-back; and Takehiro Tomiyasu fit the profile of defender required and would always waltz his way into the team based on Calum Chambers’ worrying form and Cedric Soares’ poor fit in the system.

Arsenal: Nuno Tavares form opens up very real Kieran Tierney debate as Mikel Arteta needs to decide on who to play at left-back

Meanwhile, Kieran Tierney is Kieran Tierney. The indomitable Kieran Tierney. Future captain material. The supremely consistent Scot. Undroppable.

So, the biggest credit that can be paid to Tavares – actually, let’s go with Nuno now that the other one is gone – to Nuno, is that the presence of everyone’s favourite Tesco warrior hasn’t felt especially missed.

It’s an unthinkable situation to be in. While no player will arrive firmly believing they stand no chance of making into the team at some stage, Nuno’s lack of experience and questionable defending from his time in Benfica strongly suggested that occasional cup performances and injury cover would be his remit for the time being.

Just perhaps, as the season wound down, there would be some scope for a few successive outings in the Premier League depending on how the campaign had panned out. Yet here we stand, with a very real debate on the docket.

Making his full Premier League debut against Aston Villa, Nuno was near faultless as he kept Matty Cash pinned back deep into his own half. Some aggressive carries and a series of lung bursting runs were the highlights of his performance in his best display in red and white.

Any hesitation over whether he could replicate such an outing away at a Europe-chasing rival was dispelled in the following fixture as the 21-year-old was once against excellent in the 2-0 win over Leicester. And so, the question is:

Should Nuno keep his place in the team over Tierney?

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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.