Should Arsenal be worried about Kieran Tierney?

Arsenal and their players grabbed the headlines for all the right reasons against Wolves as Alexandre Lacazette forced Jose Sa into a last gasp own goal to secure a colossal 2-1 win.

The significance of the victory can’t be understated. It was a win of the mind as much as it was the obtaining of three valuable points.

Individual performances were rightly heralded, including those of Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey, with negative aspects hard to come by.

There has been some growing concern over one individual, however, whose performances have differed from their usual standards in recent weeks. Kieran Tierney, for all his high standing in the Arsenal fanbase, has come under criticism.

Should Arsenal be worried about Kieran Tierney? A change in system to a 4-3-3 has bestowed him with a role he’s still getting used to

Bombarding runs down the touchline, one-touch moves, and dashes beyond the full-back aren’t in as regular stock. But it’s key to note what has changed in this Arsenal team over recent months.

Previous lined up in a double pivot system, the position of Granit Xhaka has played a considerable role in the more limited attacking output from the Scot. Previously we’d see the midfielder drop off into the makeshift left-back position, covering the spaces that Tierney vacated when he’d pick up the fifth lane of attack.

He would hold that position for most of the game. Arsenal’s attacking lanes were defined and Tierney’s role as the player highest on the left would allow Emile Smith Rowe to drop into the half-spaces as wandering No. 10.

Now ditching the duel No. 6’s with Thomas Partey deepest in a 4-3-3 midfield and Xhaka playing advanced as No. 8, the onus on Tierney to sit high up the pitch has lessened. Gabriel Martinelli being a regular feature in this team has impacted that too, as of all the options on that side he likes to get chalk on his boots, which has seen Tierney operate more reserved. His duties as a left-back are more balanced.

What this change is doing is reducing the volume of moments where his better aspects shine. His crossing, cutbacks and overlaps now have to be even more precise on account of their limited output.

It’s more much of a midfield role for him now. In build-up Arsenal will often assume a shape akin to a 2-3-2-3, where Partey has either full-back beside him to provide a lateral pass option. Having spent so much of his Arsenal career getting in behind the opposition backline, this new role is taking time to adjust.

Tierney hasn’t been at his fluent best, but he’s remained solid. Rarely ever getting dribbled past, the emphasis is now more on tighter, cleaner passing, which hasn’t always been his forte. He’s learning though, just as Partey has taken time to adapt to his No. 6 role, and the 24-year-old has earned patience from a fanbase who adore him unreservedly.

For the time being there is no reason to be worried. One need only look at the defensive performances to ease any concern. He’s played as much part in it as the others.