Kieran Tierney is ready to start against Sheff Utd claims Emery
Arsenal fans have been desperate to see new signing Kieran Tierney in Premier League action. Well, they may get their wish against Sheff Utd Monday evening according to manager Unai Emery.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference Emery confirmed the 22-year-old is ready to start against the Blades.
“[Tierney is] ready to play. Now we have two options in that left-back role with Sead Kolasinac and him. We’re going to play a lot of matches after Monday. We will need every player.
“It depends how he comes into the first training with us, Sead, after his international matches. We now have two players in that position and we can use one on Monday, it depends how they are, one or the other.”
If both Kolasinac and Tierney are fit and ready to go I would be surprised if Emery went with the Bosnian.
The reason that Tierney was signed in the first place was that Kola is not ft for purpose down the left. He is ok bombing forward but is an average defender at best and cannot cross the ball.
Tierney is faster, a better defender and can cross the ball. So, if both are ready then it has to be the former Celtic defender that is given the nod.
But regardless, even if Kola starts, it is just a matter of time before Tierney makes left-back his own. The brutal truth is that Kolasinac is not good enough long term, Tierney is.