Arsenal: 3 reasons Kieran Tierney should start vs Liverpool

It’s a tough call, and one that has been rumbling on for a few weeks. Now that the time is almost up for Mikel Arteta to make a call as Arsenal prepare for their trip to face Liverpool, which one should he make?

In arguably the club’s best moment since he took control, the manager have overseen ten unbeaten matches in all competitions for the second time in his 23-month stint in charge.

Victory over Watford moved Arsenal up to fifth place in the Premier League ahead of the most recent international break, a quite remarkable feat and turnaround following their worst start to a league campaign since 1954.

Along the way there have been brilliant individual performances galore. The spotlight has shone on the new arrivals who’ve taken to the division and the team seamlessly, as well as the outstanding Emile Smith Rowe who is elevating his game to a new level with his prowess in front of goal.

3 reasons Kieran Tierney should start over Nuno Tavares at left-back for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta’s side face Liverpool in the Premier League

And with this winning run comes newfound confidence. It’s confidence brought upon by a collective unity as much as the performances of certain players, but with the team being on their current trajectory there is less reason than ever to deviate from the norm.

Always mentioned in such spells is the lack of urgency to change a winning team. This particular team has had its best performances with Nuno Tavares in the side, and that is where the debate has been centering now Kieran Tierney is back from the injury that prompted the switch of personnel.

Liverpool at Anfield is up next, and who of the two Arteta opts to field will be a debate that rumbles on until one hour before kick-off, and likely in the many hours to follow.

What is worth mentioning is that whoever is selected to play won’t, or at least shouldn’t, upset anyone. Sometimes these selection discussions are down to one player being vastly superior to the other. In this instance, there is confidence in either to do a job.

However, there is one who just edges it, and here is why.

1. Nuno Tavares’ Development Needs to be Monitored

All the credit has to go to Nuno for even being involved in this fascinating conundrum. If he is chosen over Tierney to play then he will bring qualities that his teammate doesn’t, the like that can impact the game in a different way.

Nuno underlaps where Tierney doesn’t, and this opens spaces in wide areas for Smith Rowe. Equally, his powerful and technical running can be a useful tool in pushing Arsenal up the pitch. As mentioned, he adds something Liverpool won’t be familiar with in this team.

But he’s also only young. Just 21 years old. He’s effectively arrived from Benfica’s bench and come into a new environment and division, performing commendably throughout. While he may have only been considered a backup before, he is now pushing for regular involvement.

The word ‘raw’ has cropped up many times in describing his style and talent, and knowing when to thrust him into action to develop those traits will have been mapped out before the season began. Things change and players cause surprises, but away at one of Europe’s most daunting stadiums it might just be the time to let him sit on his impressive performances so far and learn from the outside looking in.

On the basis of whether he warrants to be involved, there absolutely are reasons to answer that with a firm ‘yes’: his displays have been combative and effective, whereas Tierney’s have been less so.

He is also still young and has an exciting career ahead of him. Managing expectations and just taking him out of the frame at Anfield can be beneficial, though, as there will be opportunities aplenty to come. There are many more matches to play.

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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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3. Kieran Tierney Has Experience & Leadership Over Nuno Tavares

Experience and confidence are everything in football. For all the games Nuno has played, and for all the confidence he is exuding, Tierney has well more than double that. He’s been around the block.

Anfield is no easy ground. When the crowd are on top of you it’s a hostile atmosphere to be involved in, one where you need your experienced heads, those who will bark orders and face the adversity head on.

Boasting such a young team has its positives and negatives. On the one hand, the energy and endeavour is there, with sprinklings of the unconventional, while likewise the occasion can get under the skin and focus can be lost.

Arsenal will sorely need leaders out there on Saturday and if the kitchen sink is being thrown at the Gunners then Tierney is the man you want shouting at Smith Rowe to press out wide, or the man to tell Sambi to track his runner. Factor in there being no Granit Xhaka and the 24-year-old is voice this lineup craves to an ever greater degree.

Mentally, working on the basis that Arsenal do get pummeled for 90 minutes, and possibly end up losing, for a young lad playing in his first Premier League match of this magnitude, who knows what effect that could have on Nuno. Should he make a few costly mistakes – which he may well not do, as there is no suggesting he definitely will – then someone with Tierney’s experience is better placed to deal with it.

But in a similar mould to last season when Pablo Mari was (actually) playing well and Gabriel was showing glimpses of his ability, it was a very welcome headache to have where both options were a more than adequate pain killer.

It should be celebrated that Arsenal have to left-backs they can trust. Yet, on this occasion, the circumstances call for Tierney.