Arsenal: 3 reasons Kieran Tierney should start vs Liverpool

Arsenal's Scottish defender Kieran Tierney celebrates their win in the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 26, 2021. - Arsenal won the game 3-1. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 26: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur in action with Kieran Tierney of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on September 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

2. Kieran Tierney is the Better Defender of the Two

In terms of what it is exactly that Arsenal will be doing plenty of on Saturday, it’s hard to look past rather large quantities of defending. The triumvirate of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Jota are dangerous on their off days, and scintillating otherwise.

With the Portuguese at centre-forward in place of the injured Roberto Firmino, Liverpool interchange in their positions much more, meaning Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold rotate around the right flank as the Egyptian can stay wider with the midfield pushing up.

Between Tierney and Nuno, it’s Tierney who is the better defender. Of course, Arsenal will have their chances and look to penetrate the spaces in behind Alexander-Arnold, but they will also be pegged back into a deep block, where you need the more disciplined members of your squad on show.

Tierney will probably be squeezed centrally with Smith Rowe covering almost at left wing-back, and if Salah is trying to get in behind one of Tierney or Nuno there is more faith in the Scot to defend his zone.

Greater awareness and security in that area is going to be essential for long spells. Tierney’s standing tackle, defensive scanning and discipline will all be needed on Saturday.

It’s for that reason that Arteta will, probably, play the Scot.

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