Kieran Tierney has called for calm with Arsenal on top of the league after nine games played

‘We want to keep it going as long as we can’: Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney says there is pressure being at the top of the Premier League but warns for caution with only nine games gone so far this season

  • Kieran Tierney has called for calm with only nine games of the season gone
  • The Scottish star admits there is pressure on Arsenal to stay top of the league 
  • Tierney says to remember what position the Gunners were in this time last year
  • Arsenal are top of the Premier League one point ahead of champions Man City  

Kieran Tierney has admitted the pressure is on for Arsenal to stay at the top of the Premier League, but warned there is still a long way to go this season. 

The Gunners have made an impressive start to the campaign and currently sit on top of the Premier League, one point above champions Manchester City. 

The 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday has been seen as a sign that Mikel Arteta’s side should be taken seriously as title contenders, but defender Tierney is remaining cautious with only nine games gone so far this season. 

Kieran Tierney has called for calm with Arsenal on top of the league after nine games played

Kieran Tierney has called for calm with Arsenal on top of the league after nine games played 

The Scottish star has reminded fans of Arsenal’s position twelve months ago, where the club were sitting in the bottom half of the table, but is enjoying leading the way this term and wants to stay there for as long as possible.

‘It’s only been nine games and you can’t say anyone is anything after nine games.’ Tierney told the official club site. 

‘If you look at last year, we were down in the table and we climbed our way up, so there’s a long way to go and there’s no point in even thinking like that.

‘You want to stay [at the top] of course; I’ve got a bit of experience at Celtic when we were expected to be at the top and stay on the top as well, so it is familiar in that way for me that the pressure is on you to stay there. The other teams are chasing you, and we want to keep that going as long as we can.’

Tierney has had to battle for a Gunners first-team place with Oleksandr Zinchenko this season

Tierney has had to battle for a Gunners first-team place with Oleksandr Zinchenko this season 

While Arsenal have been flying so far this season, it’s been a stuttering start to the campaign for the 25-year-old. Having faced an injury-hit pre-season, the Scot then found himself in a battle for his place with Takehiro Tomiyasu and new singing Oleksander Zinchenko. 

However, Tierney is now fit again and determined to take his opportunities in the first-team, especially before the domestic game takes a breather for the World Cup. 

‘It’s been tough’. He said looking back at the first few months of the season. 

‘I missed pre-season coming back from an injury, and the first game I played in was the Palace one – that was the first week of training that I had. I’ve just been trying to get minutes here and there so it’s been a tough start, but whether I’m first, second or third-choice, I’m just going to keep working hard and see where it takes me.

Arsenal have only lost one game this season and top the table one point ahead of Man City

Arsenal have only lost one game this season and top the table one point ahead of Man City 

‘I wouldn’t say [competition] motivates me more, as whether I’m the only left-back or there’s five left-backs, I’m still motivated to play and to do well. Day-to-day, nothing changes in my life; if I’m playing or not I’m just working as hard as I possibly can. I train hard, and if the manager calls on me, I’m ready.

‘I want to play every game possible, when you don’t play like all footballers, you’re disappointed but when you get your chance, you just need to make sure you go and take it.’

The Gunners sudden rise to title contenders has raised expectations at the club, but Tierney believes that just making progress is the initial aim for this season. 

He added: ‘Progress is the main thing. We’ve progressed every year so we want to keep progressing well. You just want to finish up as high as possible, and we know what we want and we’ll keep working towards it.’

Arsenal return to European action this week when they take on Bodo Glimt on Thursday, before a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds at the weekend. 

Mikel Arteta celebrates the 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday that saw Arsenal return to the top

Mikel Arteta celebrates the 3-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday that saw Arsenal return to the top

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