Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney was overlooked by manager Mikel Arteta for the starting lineup against Liverpool on Saturday.
The Gunners boss opted to keep faith with Nuno Tavares, who had been in good form before the international break. However, the Portuguese defender’s poor pass led directly to Diogo Jota scoring the second for the Reds in the 4-0 defeat.
Supporters on Twitter were asked whether Tierney should have started, and there was a mixed reaction, with some thinking he would have been the better option, while others were not so convinced:
Seriously missing him
— Cruz07 (@fehintoladami) November 21, 2021
Wouldn't have made any difference.
— Terfa Hemen (@terphill) November 21, 2021
Yes, Tavares gave them their second goal and before that lost it loads of times giving them confidence.
— Ben (@Bslites) November 21, 2021
still would've gotten piped
— mentos (@Mentos_15) November 21, 2021
absolutely unless he had an injury it was a mistake not to play him he is a big game player for sure
— david Terry (@RealStroller) November 21, 2021
Before people were saying Tavares had displaced him, now we are playing that card of missing him!!!
— Scomicshelby (@scomicshelby) November 21, 2021
Naaaa…the score line would still be the same…
— jorge (@omijorge069) November 21, 2021
Tierney just came back from injury and Nuno was playing brilliant, almost everyone said keep as is, it's easy now to say we should of played Tierney but the right call was there, he had a bad game, no one would of expected it.. It happens
— 🎅 JinxieSKW 🎄 (@JinxieSKW) November 21, 2021
As they say, hindsight is 20/20. Tavares had been excellent heading into the game at Anfield and it would have been a surprise if he had been left out.
The 21-year-old will undoubtedly learn a lot from the experience, but he may have to spend another spell on the bench if Tierney is reinstated for upcoming games against Newcastle and Manchester United.