Arsenal new boy Kieran Tierney likened to Virgil van Dijk by his former manager – Mirror Online, Mirror

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Arsenal new boy Kieran Tierney is a defender who reads the game as well as Virgil van Dijk.

That is the view of former Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, the man who handed 22 – year-old left-back Tierney his first international cap.

Arsenal’s £ 25 million signing from Celtic is set to make his Premier League debut in tomorrow night’s clash withManchester United.

His first start came on Tuesday, in the 5-0 League Cup thumping of Nottingham Forest.

Tierney made such a good impression that he left the field to a standing ovation when he was substituted. And Strachan knows that performance was only a taster of what is to come.

He said: “Kieran is seriously a wonderful kid and his understanding of danger is magnificent.

“ He reminds me of Van Dijk in that way. The first time I watched Virgil and Kieran play, I thought, ‘Are you lucky, or are you brilliant at reading the game?’.

“I’d love to see some analysis on how many times he intercepts or clears the ball in the box.

“He thinks like a forward, so he understands what they’re going to do.

“ You could have six attackers and just him, and Kieran could still sniff the danger and get the ball.

“So he’ll certainly help Arsenal get to the top four.

“He’s more than just a good player – he has incredible spirit, strength, ability, and versatility, he’s perfect for Arsenal.

“He mostly played at left-back or wing-back for Celtic.

“ But he can also play just as well at left center-back or on the left of a three, which is how Unai Emery has got them playing just now. ”

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