Comparing Arsenal’s league record with and without Kieran Tierney
Since joining Arsenal from Celtic in 2019, Kieran Tierney has established himself as a firm fans’ favourite and one of the most important players at the Emirates. So how do Arsenal fare when he’s not in the team?
Tierney only made a few Premier League appearances under Unai Emery but has since gone from strength to strength under Mikel Arteta.
The 24-year-old is regarded as one of the best left-backs in England and has also been tipped as a future Arsenal captain due to his consistent performances and leadership qualities.
“He had a really, really good season after a really difficult start at the club and I really value people that when things aren’t going for them, they don’t give up,” Arteta said when asked about Tierney in 2021.
“Kieran didn’t give up, he needed support and I think the club gave him a lot of support, but he was really willing to turn that situation around and prove people wrong if people were doubting him.
“That character, I think it shows on the pitch – when anything happens that is not going for us, you don’t give up, you just raise your level, try to be better and transmit that to the rest of the team so they all believe.
“Kieran has this capacity, and Emile [Smith Rowe] as well, to lift the crowd with an action, Gabi Martinelli has this capacity – and this is something you either have or you don’t have.”
But the Scotland international has also been plagued by a series of injury problems during his first three seasons at the Emirates.
He’s reportedly set to miss Arsenal’s remaining fixtures in 2021-22 after returning from international duty with discomfort in his knee.
We’ve taken a closer look at Arsenal’s record with and without the defender in the starting XI in the Premier League since the start of the 2019-20 season.
As the stats show, Arsenal average more points per game, have a better win rate and concede fewer goals per game when Tierney starts for them.
With Tierney starting
Played: 60
Won: 31
Drawn: 11
Lost: 18
Goals for: 93
Goals against: 67
Points per game: 1.73
Win rate: 51.6%
Loss rate: 30%
Goals per game: 1.55
Goals against per game: 1.11
READ: Seven times Kieran Tierney has proved he’s Arsenal captain material
Without Tierney starting
Played: 45
Won: 18
Drawn: 13
Lost: 14
Goals for: 62
Goals against: 54
Points per game: 1.48
Win rate: 40%
Loss rate: 31.1%
Goals per game: 1.37
Goals against per game: 1.2
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