Kieran Tierney made his long-awaited return to the Arsenal starting XI following well over a year out of the side on Wednesday. He excited supporters during the 3-2 win over Crystal Palace, and created a couple of classic Tierney-esque chances with crosses into the box.
Tierney was even seen further up the field than Leandro Trossard at times, playing far more as a wing-back than a full-back. When asked about this after the game, Mikel Arteta made reference to the need to play to a player’s strengths.
“He’s playing to his strengths, that’s something that we have to continue to learn because they give you a lot of information,” he said. “They tell you not sometimes with their words but with a lot of information, where they feel more comfortable, and certainly there is a much better fit for him.”
Tierney fell out of favour at Arsenal due to the inverted nature the left-back role took on under Arteta. The Spaniard has used a number of players in the Scotsman’s stead, most notably Oleksandr Zinchenko. But other right-footed players have also played there and moved inside including Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber.
Summer signing Riccardo Calafiori and centre-half-by-trade Jakub Kiwior have offered more of a defensive edge to the role. It was Myles Lewis-Skelly, however who replaced Tierney as the youngster takes advantage of the triple injury hitting the left full-back role.
A midfield role is what Lewis-Skelly is usually more suited to. However, he told football.london after the match that it was his job on the day to mirror what Tierney was doing on the night.
“Well, I just had to mirror Kieran Tierney, be strong in my duels, help the team out defensively and just be secure,” he said. While the game state meant Palace were more on the attack than when the man he replaced was on the field, he did well to lock down the right flank.
Still only 18, there is a lot of pressure suddenly on the Hale End graduate’s shoulders. Especially considering he is playing out of what would be described as his natural position, but he explained that his growth as a midfielder has helped him a lot here.
“Definitely, when I am on the ball and working on ball retention, keeping the play simple,” he replied. “It’s the basics that I have taken from midfield to left-back. It has helped me.”
Yet he also made reference to some of the people that have helped him too. “Well, Jorginho has helped me a lot,” he said.
“He is obviously so experienced. Martin has helped me a lot as the captain, he is great role model to live up to.”
Adding: “My mum and family keep me grounded. They help me a lot with that, but obviously Bukayo [Saka] coming through [the academy], he knows what is it like.
“You get all the attention, so you have got to keep your feet on the ground, keep your mind focused.”
Whether the left-back position is due another change remains to be seen. But it is intriguing to hear Lewis-Skelly asked to mirror Tierney and with what the Scotsman showed, perhaps it is indeed time for Arsenal to adopt a more traditional approach on both sides to help them out of this recent dip in form.