Arsenal: 3 benefits of Gabriel Martinelli’s red card

2. Kieran Tierney Has Grass to Run Into

Kieran Tierney has slowly been building his form back up since Nuno Tavares surprisingly and deservedly usurped him in the starting lineup earlier in the season.

Starting in the defeat at Goodison Park, he then went on a run of three assists and a goal in his following six matches, a solid return for the left-back considering form had evaded him throughout the season up until that point.

Peculiarly, even though he’s contributed at the top end of the pitch with Martinelli in front of him, when Smith Rowe lines up in the wide left position he is actually given more freedom to overlap into attacking areas where he’s at his most dangerous.

Martinelli hugs the touchline far more than Smith Rowe does, with the latter preferring to drift into the half-spaces and build triangles with his full-back, and it’s those position where Tierney’s driving runs and crosses provide their biggest threat.

Where the Scot receives the ball is so important. He still gets beyond his man to deliver crosses with Martinelli in the side – the pair do partner well – but with someone drifting infield he can receive the ball with more grass to run into. Assuming possession effectively with his back to goal results in passes back infield or back to Gabriel. The options to attack are greater when Tierney himself can run the touchline.

How the dynamic between Tierney and Smith Rowe picks up against the Bees will make for interesting viewing.

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