Interview

Arteta - Tierney transmits every value I want here

Fresh from the news that Emile Smith Rowe has signed a new long-term deal, Mikel Arteta was keen to highlight another player who has committed his future to us.

Kieran Tierney agreed a new contract earlier in the summer, and his manager says he epitomises everything he wants from a character in his squad.

"Absolutely there is another character in this dressing room that transmits every value that I would like to transmit to the club and our fans [and it is Kieran]," Arteta told Arsenal Media. 

"Again, it is young, hungry, talented, and people with huge desire and again he has all four ingredients - and he didn’t want to talk about anything other than staying here. 

"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. 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 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."