Kieran Tierney says maintaining Arsenal’s unbeaten run was important as the Gunners limped to a 1-1 draw with Leicester in a game we should have won before the break.
A red card for substitute Eddie Nketiah with 15 minutes remaining proved to be the turning point in the match. The striker had only been on the pitch for a couple of minutes when he went in clumsily high on Justin James as was given his marching orders following a VAR check.
Jamie Vardy’s late equaliser rubbed salt in Arsenal wounds as the Foxes kept us at arm’s length in the race for Champions League qualification.
After the match, Tierney spoke to Sky Sports. Here’s what he had to say…
On a tough game after the red card…
It was very tough, we were playing against a team who are good at keeping the ball. When you’re down a man it’s going to be even harder but I thought we done well, we dug in deep. Obviously, we conceded a goal, unfortunately, but I thought we showed good fight as well.
On what got us through the final part of the game…
Fitness, focus, determination and hunger the team to do well. We’ve had a few good games, we’re on a good run and we’re hungry to keep that going as long as possible.
On his form…
I feel since the break that we’ve had, I’ve come back a lot more settled, even in London itself, I’m feeling a bit more settled. That break done me wonders and I’ve came back feeling more part of the team. The boss has been great with me and I’m grateful for every single opportunity that I get.
On the sending off…
I had a view. To me, it looked totally accidental. Obviously, I’ve not seen it slow like the referee got a chance to. For me, it’s accidental and Eddie’s not the kind of player who would do anything like that. I’ve not seen it back but for me it looked accidental.
On our chances of qualifying for the Champions League…
The run we’ve been on gives us confidence, we want to keep the unbeaten run going; that was the main thing going down to ten men. We conceded the goal, they were going to have all the ball, they were going to put pressure on us and with eight minutes added on there was more pressure as well. I think we done well. Obviously, we wanted to win but at least we didn’t get beat.
Not seen the sending off, what’s the view? Would we have screamed for a red if it was against us?
It was red all day long in my opinion. Eddie came in a fraction too late, and caught their player with a stretched leg at around knee height.
It’s a red by the letter of the law, but if that letter of the law is not applied consistently and Vardy remains on the pitch, the law becomes irrelevant and it is not a red card. So yes, it is ok to feel shafted by the decision.
What’s frustrating is that we didn’t have more goals under our belt. Had we capitalised better on those chances in the first half the red card wouldn’t have mattered.
Except for the goal we hardly let them have a sniff of the goal after the red card. Dug in deep and played smart
You’re easily satisfied like Thierney. The main thing is not to absolutely win to increase chances for european football but getting a draw, bravo !
Your like utd fan self entitled. Be happy we where much the better team. It was a mistake by Eddie but he’ll learn from it. The rest of this season is about getting confidence for next year and hopefully get European football. Mike is doing a great job
I am not, the manager said yesterday we were a team that should be in Europe. Let’s do it.
Mike Dean?
Get his name right at least.
Like Arteta said, for dangerous play with or without intent Vardy before Eddie should have gone?
It feels like a defeat because of how well we played overall and the need to get all 3 points for the outside chance of Europe (CL dream).
Great work from Tierney. Cabellos was impressive
A great first half. For me, the most important thing is to see progress and it is absolutely clear that Arteta is slowly but surely shaping this lot into a proper team. I didn’t think he could do it given the limitations of the players but he is. Can you imagine what he could do if he had proper backing for a couple of good signings?
What glass half full achieves in football is midtable. You’ve got to develop a culture of “never satisfied until success” in the PL to achieve top four.
A lot of words, a lot of nothing said. Media coaching at its”finest”
Arsenal had a bit of bad luck today. Onto the next match
Fuming. Why is Vardy let off so easy then. When tf will PL refereeing standards be atleast SUBPAR, taking all that time just so then the babyfaced cunt goes to the screen, glances at it like his mam does when the postman comes in and gives a straight red!! Atrocious
I can’t say enough how much I like this lad, everything we’ve been screaming for. Ten more please transfer people
Unfortunate we went down to a man and could not hold on. Still think we could have been more aggressive in midfield challenging for the ball after 75th minute dismissal. A bit too passive and we allowed that ball to be whipped in. But therein lies the issue. We do not have enough outlet to relief pressure against the backline particularly when down a man. Auba for all his goal poaching attributes is non competitive for 50-50s and does not do enough to provide us the threat and we just took off Lacazette. We still lack a player (or two)… Read more »
Good display from both full/wing backs. This 3 at the back (not rocket science) both provides us better security at the back considering the Cbacks we have but also give sus width going forward. In turn it opens up space in the middle for which Laca, Ceballos and Granit have been profiting from in recent games. If anything, those 3 were most impressive for me today at least in first half as they found avenues and quick first time passes to move us forward more incisively. This is perhaps the most encouraging aspect of our improvement at the moment. We… Read more »
Eddie’s red was proper, can argue Vardy. The announcers were a bit surprised at him coming on for Laca, given his rawness in a big moment. Took two minutes time for them to be prescient. I have no problem with Arteta playing youngsters, but that goes against his mandate that we need to play in Europe.
You’re right— he got the Lacazette sub wrong: that was the game changer.
RUBBISH. Anyone can say he got the sub wrong when after 2m said sub gets sent off. Hindsight is 20/20. Laca was poor, the sub made sense as against tired legs and on a slippery surface, Eddie could have profited
Tierney is a real crosser of the ball. Great footballer ??
Quick point about the red card for Eddie, ref had already booked him – I see how it could have been a red but is it a ‘clear and obvious’ error not giving one? It seems to be what Wenger would have called a dark yellow, however the moment they started slowing everything down it makes the challenge look a lot worse.
Red or maybe not. The real issue is that as a top team we have to end up winning irrespective of all challenges we face on the field. Find a way to win irrespective. Thats what top teams do. Any other discussion is purely academic.
what a player