A leader for club and country
We now know that common sense prevailed and the rumours that Bukayo Saka was to miss out on Southgate’s final 26, which would have left Arsenal, traditionally among the elite of European club football, with only 2 players on show at the Euros starting this month, were false. Arsenal will now have three outfield players in contention to play but there seems a real possibility that one of them, Granit Xhaka, may not be a Gunner in 2021/22. Therefore, it is entirely plausible that we Arsenal fans, Saka aside, may have just one player’s fortunes to follow, in Kieran Tierney, and even he will not be playing in the position he plays for us.
Of course, many Arsenal supporters would sooner Saka had been omitted, allowing him a good summer’s rest on a ‘staycation’ beach. I predicted a few weeks back in this column that Saka’s versatility would ensure he made the final group. The irony is that Saka is he does feature, will probably play in the position his Arsenal teammate would prefer, at left wingback. Because for Scotland, not playing Robertson and Tierney is not an option, as they are probably their two best players, yet both play left back for Liverpool and Arsenal respectively.
Sense prevailed
Scotland will operate with a back three, with Kieran Tierney at left centre back and Andrew Robertson, at left wingback. However, similarly to when he has played that role for Arsenal. I am sure that Steve Clarke knows his distribution and attacking attributes are not curtailed and will ensure a midfielder covers him if he is to roam or indeed, Robertson is experienced enough to cover if the players interchange in play.
With my Arsenal hat on, whilst on the face of it, it is not ideal seeing our best player, being utilised out of position from our perspective, but I feel there are positives. Next season Tierney, already a vocal leader on the pitch for us, will need to be more so, with some older pros leaving this summer. Carrying such responsibility at the back for Scotland, who will start all three group games as underdogs, can only further enhance his natural leadership qualities. I also think a period playing left in the back three may improve the defensive side of his game, because he can see more of the play from the deeper position. Indeed, I saw a huge improvement in Nacho Monreal as a left back, on the defensive side, particular in his positioning, after he has played left centrally in a 3 for a period.
Player Left CB improved Nacho
Many among the Arsenal supporting fraternity see Tierney as the logical captain of the club and we will have further evidence to back this claim watching him for Scotland, I am sure. Some, feel the need for the traditional on pitch leader, as we had in Adams or Vieira for example, is less necessary in the modern game. Not me, I still want, that roll your sleeves up (of course Kieran would not wear long-sleeved anyway,) mentality from club captain and Tierney is that man. It helps of course, when that player is one of the best in the team and guaranteed to start when fit and our already talismanic Scot ticks both boxes.
It has been a long season for Arsenal and whilst Tierney did have an enforced rest through injury, he will not expend as much energy in a back three as he would bombing up and down the flank, as he does so effectively. However, despite the fact, Scotland, on paper at least, are unlikely progress in the tournament, rules might dictate he has to miss much of Arsenal’s pre-season, having played in the Euros. This being the case, the recruitment of a new left back to understudy the Scot is business Arteta and Edu will wish to conclude early.
Arsenal’s future skipper?
I am seriously looking forward to watching our Tesco bag carrying, man of the people, superstar, further add to his already huge and deserved reputation this month. Whist also taking solace, that while we are not as a club where his ability merits, we know he is where he wants to be, assuming his quote when asked his favourite thing about living in the capital from April holds good:
“Just playing for Arsenal. I didn’t move to Arsenal to live in London. I came here to London so I could play for Arsenal.”
This is the full unedited version of yesterday’s Sun Fan’s Column and written before last night’s international friendlies.
Passionate fifty-something Arsenal supporter who has been making the journey to N5 regularly since the early 1980s – although his first game was in 1976. Always passionate when talking about The Arsenal, Dave decided to send a guest blog to Gunnersphere in the summer of 2011 and has not stopped writing about the Gunners since.
He set up his own site – 1 Nil Down 2 One Up – in February 2012, which he moved on in 2016 to concentrate on freelance writing and building Gunners Town, which he launched with Paul in 2014.
The objective of GT was to be new and fresh and to give a platform for likeminded passionate Arsenal fans wishing to write about their team. Dave still of course, writes for the site himself and advises the ever-changing writing crew.
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