Arsenal went through a lot of pain to sign Kieran Tierney from Celtic FC last summer but the youngster has failed to impress anyone in his first season in England.
The left-back’s current season has been marred with injuries and so far he’s managed to play in only five Premier League matches for the club. In his absence though, it has been another youngster who has shone in that very same role.
Young Bukayo Saka who is a midfielder by trade has played as the Gunners’ first-choice left-back as many as 15 times this season and according to former Arsenal defender Nigel Winterburn, the 18-year-old should try and make the position his own.
Winterburn said, via Metro: ‘What he should be working on now is showing the opposition players, particularly when it’s 1v1, showing them where he wants them to go or where Arteta wants the team to be pushed into.
‘With the pace that he’s got he can change his position to dictate to players where he actually wants them to go, rather than being dictated against when you’re defending.
‘There’s a lot of positives we’re seeing, there’s still a lot of developments to come but he’s done a fantastic job, he’s just been pushed into that position and he’s had to get on with it.
‘He’s been a sensation and someone that, if he was to play in that position regularly, will get better and better, and that is an exciting thought.
‘That role suits him really well. In terms of what he’s done at left-back, it’s absolutely incredible.
‘He’s adapted and what I love that he’s doing is moving forward and coming onto the ball and he’s almost not being marked.
‘He’s so dangerous when he’s in possession of the ball and his quality of crossing in some of the balls he’s put In for some of the goals is absolutely sensational.’
Bad news for Kieran Tierney?
Kieran Tierney was rated as a top left-back while he was playing for Celtic in Scotland but over the past one and a half years, he has been constantly struggling with injuries.
While still at Celtic he had hernia issue for which he needed surgery and then this season he dislocated his shoulder while player for the Gunners.
All these injury woes have proved to be a big deterrent for the Scottish international and we are fearful that his career in England could very well be over.
Mikel Arteta is desperate to take Arsenal back to the Champions League and the last thing he would want is to carry any dead weight in his squad.
At this point, Bukayo Saka is doing more than a fine job for the Gunners and if Kieran Tierney cannot get his act straight soon enough, the manager will not hesitate one bit before selling him off to another club.
