Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has previously labelled Arsenal full-back Kieran Tierney "phenomenal", though his recent involvement at the club might suggest times are changing. The Scotsman has been rather frozen out by Mikel Arteta this season, having rarely been given the opportunity to impress.
The former Celtic man has been used predominantly as an option for the Europa League, with duo Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu preferred in the Premier League. The choice to start the Japan international in particular has raised eyebrows, having played mainly as a right-back since joining the club.
However, with the role at left-back changing under Arteta to move closer towards being an inverted full-back, the ability of Tierney has also had to adapt. "He’s been brilliant, inverted full-back, and that’s how we are playing down there, so I’m watching him every week trying to take tips from him," the defender said of his Scotland teammate Greg Taylor, who happens to play that exact role.
