‘Grit, determination and hunger’: Eni Aluko says one Arsenal player is just what fans have been looking for

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Arsenal full-back Kieran Tierney has been praised by Eni Aluko, who believes the Gunners ace is the kind of player that the club’s fans have long been looking for.

The 23-year-old joined Arsenal in 2019 from Celtic in a reported £25million deal, arriving at the Emirates Stadium to much fanfare given his heroics for the Scottish Premiership team.

However, the Scotland international – who was nursing a hip problem when he joined the Gunners – made just 12 senior appearances prior to the suspension of English football.

Tierney put his prior woes firmly behind him after the restart and has since become one of the first names on Mikel Arteta’s team sheet.

Even during Arsenal’s recent woeful run of form in the Premier League, he has stood out as one of the team’s better players, and was especially great against West Brom with a goal and an assist.

Aluko, former England forward and sporting director for women’s football at Aston Villa, was a guest on Sky Sports’ Kings of the Premier League show, helping put together December’s team of the month.

And on Tierney, she said: “He is what Arsenal fans have been looking for. That player that’s got grit, determination and hunger. He’s so consistent.

“We associate Arsenal with skilful, technical, luxury players, but this is a Scottish warrior who’s playing for the badge. Again, another guy who wears a t-shirt in the snow!”

Tierney made the XI, being named at left-back, while his teammate on the flank, Bukayo Saka, also made the cut as one of December’s best Premier League players.

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Tierney has been one of Arsenal’s best and most consistent players, shining amid a sea of mediocrity earlier this season and now looking more inspired than ever as the team gets back on track.

Aluko is spot on – a player with Tierney’s attitude, leadership and drive, not to mention his obvious talents, is something Arsenal have been needing for a while.