Paul Merson has made the case for 'outstanding' Kieran Tierney to become Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang's successor as the new Arsenal captain, despite making an error against Liverpool.
Tierney, 24, has become a fan favourite among the Arsenal faithful and despite his injury issues, his characteristics when leading the team have led to calls suggesting the Scotsman is the ready made captain.
Aubameyang was stripped of the duties after disciplinary reasons that have since seen him frozen out of Mikel Arteta's plans in the short-term with the Gabonese having recently been representing his nation at the Africa Cup of Nations.
"Well we have the leadership group and we have different players who have been nominated to be captain, in the last game it was Laca, we had had Granit who has been captain as well, so we will follow that," Arteta explained when the decision was made back in December 2021.
"It is a really unpleasant situation and it is not the moment to any rash decision. That leadership group is really strong, it is the one that communicates with myself and the coaching staff and with the club in a really strong and clear way and we are going to continue that.
"That is one of the decisions we make, to make that group a little bit better and try to educate them and try to get the right feedback all the time and build the trust and a strong culture around the club. It is working really well so we will continue to do that."
Now, with no decision being made on a permanent captain choice, former Gunners icon Merson has made his case as to who he reckons is worthy to take the armband.
Speaking on Sky Sports' coverage of Arsenal vs Liverpool, Merson said: "I’m a massive fan. I think he’s an outstanding player. He leads by example and, for me, he would be the captain of Arsenal all day long and everyday.
"He’s brilliant. He has a great attitude, would run through a brick wall for you, gets up and down, he can put crosses in and the odd goal at Norwich.
"But, at the other end as well, he can defend as good as anybody which is unusual for full-backs in this day and age - it’s either one or the other, he can do both. A great team player. He should be captain of Arsenal. It’s a no-brainer."
Merson then refused to get drawn upon who is the better of the two Scottish Premier League left-backs- Tierney or Liverpool's Andy Robertson.
"I like both of them. I think they’re both real good players," the ex-midfielder said.
"If you can mould them together you probably have the best in the world. Scotland are very fortunate to have two of the best left-backs, attacking left-backs in the world in my opinion."
Despite these clear pleas which arguably are merited for Tierney, he didn't strengthen his case too well with what he did in the first half of the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
Alongside Takehiro Tomiyasu, who was the main culprit for Diogo Jota's opening goal in the 19th minute, both Ben White and Tierney could have arguably done more to stop the Portuguese's effort from bypassing the defence and trickling into the back of the net.
