It appears as though Kieran Tierney is finally starting to get to grips with playing in the inverted left-back role under Mikel Arteta.
The Scotsman was traditionally one of the first names on the teamsheet before the beginning of this season, as his defensive capabilities as an orthodox left-back have never been cause for concern. However, Arteta's new playing style and plan for his full-backs became evident at the start of the campaign.
In attack - particularly at times where the Gunners are looking to control possession - the full-backs have started to tuck into the midfield. Tierney found it difficult at first, hence why he fell behind summer signing Oleksandr Zinchenko in the pecking order.
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As a midfielder by trade, and as someone who adopted a similar attacking style under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Zinchenko was already familiar with the inverted role and has shown that he's comfortable in it. Tierney's confidence must've hit a bit of a low when Takehiro Tomiyasu was preferred at left-back, though.
The Japan international is predominantly a right-back but his ability to play comfortably with both feet meant that he was a viable option on the left-hand side. He too looked astute in the inverted role, which meant Tierney was a little behind his teammates.
Nevertheless, as seen on Reddit, his recent performance in the 2-1 Dubai Super Cup win against AC Milan shows that he's embracing the demands of the new role. Although his injury record has always been a bit of a problem, if the 25-year-old can stay fit for the next few months, his ability to play as both an orthodox left-back and an inverted one will be pivotal for Arsenal's title chances.
Arteta will ultimately be happy with the Scottish defender's development. He'll just now be hoping he's afforded more opportunities in the Premier League.
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