Former Arsenal prospect flopped harder than his new team expected

At the end of last season, when Celtic won their 55th title in the Scottish league, the news was even sweeter for their fans when defender Kieran Tierney announced he was leaving Arsenal after six seasons and returning to the Glasgow club where he graduated from the academy.

There was every reason to be encouraged by this. At only 28, Tierney still figured to have some good seasons left in him. He was good enough to face down the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, so surely he would easily see off St. Mirren and Livingstone. Celtic lost an embarrassing Champions League tie on penalties to Kairat Almaty, but his experience would still serve the club well in their Europa League campaign.

Yet at nearly the halfway point of the season, Celtic fans are proclaiming his return a disaster. Are they right?

Kieran Tierney hasn't been the player Celtic fans thought he would be

First of all, Celtic have at this time the stingiest defense in Scotland’s top flight, having only allowed nine goals domestically. They are in second place with a game in hand on league-leading Hearts, though their fans will surely regard that as subpar.

Tierney has a reputation for being injury-prone, but he has played in 21 games in all competitions this season. In addition, he scored a goal for Scotland in the win over Denmark that ensured the country’s first World Cup appearance in this century.

Looking at the tape reveals some cracks, though. In Celtic’s loss to Dundee United, he was beaten for pace by Cameron Congreve down the left side, which resulted in the Tangerines’ second goal. The loss to Hearts was largely the result of Dane Murray having a nightmare game, scoring an own goal and conceding a penalty. 

Celtic defeated Feyenoord in the Europa League, but Tierney nevertheless had a terrible time, as Luciano Valente’s long ball landed between him and Liam Scales for the Dutch side’s goal.

He also allowed a cross from Jordan Lotomba that led to a scoring opportunity for Feyenoord and was caught up the pitch on an odd-man rush that resulted in a shot that Kasper Schmeichel had to stop. Had the home side at De Kuip been more clinical and avoided self-inflicted errors, they might have easily won.

Celtic are now under new management. Coach Brendan Rodgers resigned at the end of October with the club eight points behind Hearts. Under interim coach Martin O’Neill, the Hoops made up the difference, and as of yesterday, the new permanent coach is Wilfried Nancy, the Frenchman who won the MLS Cup with Columbus Crew.

We’ll see whether he keeps Tierney at his left-back position or moves him to central defense, where he’s more accustomed to playing with Scotland. With another top-of-the-table matchup looming against Hearts, we may soon have clarity about where the former Arsenal man stands.