Arsenal fans have praised Kieran Tierney for his classy reaction to Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool, rounding up his teammates to thank the travelling support.
The Gunners were involved in a thrilling tie at Anfield, fighting back from a goal down to take a two-goal lead only to be pegged back by two stunning strikes from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Divock Origi in the second half.
Joe Willock thought he had won the contest with an outrageous long-range goal of his own, but Origi’s acrobatic effort in stoppage time sent the match to penalties.
Both sides were flawless from the spot until Dani Ceballos stepped up, with his effort saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, and that allowed youngster Curtis Jones to seal the win.
As soon as his effort snuck in off the post, several of Arsenal’s devastated players – who had been shoulder-to-shoulder on the halfway line – made a beeline for the tunnel.
Ceballos looked keen to make a quick getaway after his decisive miss while Matteo Guendouzi followed suit, but Tierney called both players back.
Tierney is pure class here – he gets it already ???? pic.twitter.com/0TFnk7shW5
— Johno ✖️ (@Talkinoutmyarse) October 30, 2019
The Scot, who came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute, was quick to rally his deflated teammates and beckoned them over to the away end to thank the travelling Arsenal support.
Captain for the night Hector Bellerin had his back to Ceballos and Guendouzi when they walked off, but joined Tierney in calling them back once he spotted them storming off.
Tierney, as the final penalty went in, grabbed all the players and told them to go thank the away fans. Well done, lad.
— Andrew Allen (@AAllenSport) October 30, 2019
The relationship between Arsenal’s fans and players is particularly fragile at present, with supporters at the Emirates having booed skipper Granit Xhaka in the weekend’s Premier League draw with Crystal Palace.
The Swiss midfielder responded by cupping his ear to the crowd and telling them to ‘f*** of’ and it remains to be seen if he will return to the line-up on Saturday against Wolves after being rested at Anfield.
