Ashley Cole raves about Arsenal man, who has ‘top qualities’

Kieran Tierney TEAMtalk

Ashley Cole had some glowing praise for Kieran Tierney’s performance against Leicester City on Tuesday night.

The former Arsenal full-back was a guest in the Sky Sports studio and he seemed mightily impressed with Scotland international Tierney, who is starting to find his feet in the capital.

The former Celtic star has started five of Arsenal’s six Premier League games since the season was restarted and was named man of the match in the 1-1 draw with Leicester.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted for Mikel Arteta’s side, but a late Jamie Vardy strike pegged them back after Eddie Nketiah had been sent off.

It was a result which put a dent in Arsenal’s European hopes, but Cole believes they have signed a diamond in Tierney.

Asked if he had been impressed with the Tierney, Cole said: “Yeah, I have. I think one thing that Arsenal were probably lacking in the past year was a left-back that was solid, didn’t get beaten in one-versus-one situations – he don’t get beat in one-v-one situations.

“But I also think the way he attacks and the timing of his attacking runs, it brings a different element to Arsenal and a different way to attack.

 

 

 

“And he’s got a great delivery on him, as we just saw earlier, a great ball in that ended up with a corner. So he’s been very good for Arsenal I think.’

“He’s been solid. He came to Arsenal with high expectations, watching him at Celtic he was brilliant. And then he came carrying an injury, he didn’t start the season and now he’s starting to get back to fitness and, for me, being a star of this Arsenal defence.

“Whether he plays in a three of just as an out-and-out left-back, I think he has top qualities. He can play into a striker, he can join the attacks well, he’s got quality of pass, he can defend in one-v-one situations.

“He seems like a defender that doesn’t want to be beaten, he’s not happy when crosses go in. So I think for Arsenal he’s a great player. Not one for the future, but of course he can improve, but he’s been brilliant so far for Arsenal.”

 

SHOCK TIERNEY EXIT TALK

Kieran Tierney TEAMtalk

Only last month shock talk emerged that Tierney could be sold by Arsenal this summer.

Leicester City are apparently keen on signing Tierney if Ben Chilwell ends up joining Chelsea and Brendan Rodgers is understood to be willing to let Chilwell leave for the right price.

“There is a fit there [for Chilwell at Chelsea],” Castles said on the Transfer Window podcast.

“I think it’s important that Brendan Rodgers, when he was entering Leicester City and looking at last summer’s transfer market, Chilwell was a player he was prepared to let go.”