John Hartson has challenged Simon Jordan’s ridiculous claim that Kieran Tierney doesn’t have the necessary leadership skills to take the Arsenal armband, insisting the full-back showed his skills during his time at Celtic. Jordan who is Talksport’s usual go-to for outrage and baiting of Scottish football but he found criticism from fans after the news that Arsenal had stripped captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the armband.
Tierney was one of the names mentioned as being a potential candidate given his strength of character as well as the ability to lead from the front. Although, Jordan rubbished this sparking a challenge from ex-Celt John Hartson.
Speaking to Go Radio Football Show, Hartson hammered Jordan for his views on Tierney and presented the case for him as a contender to become Arsenal skipper.
“I think he’s got leadership qualities. When he plays in the Arsenal team he plays with desire to win. He’s got a winning mentality.
“As a captain you don’t have to be a screamer or shouter, just go and do your job. From Tiernery’s point of view, get crosses in, deliver for the forward players.
“He’s got those leadership qualities – he showed it at Celtic.
“I said when he moved ‘he’ll be a future Arsenal captain’ if they keep him there that long. He’s the type for me who will get better and better.
“Maybe not at this moment in time, because there are other candidates, but one day Tierney will be an Arsenal captain.”
The left-back made over 170 appearances for Celtic, winning five league titles and three League Cups and Scottish Cups during his time whilst enjoying hero status with supporters as being ‘one of us’. The former Celtic defender left the Scottish Champions in the summer of 2019 for a fee in the region of £25m, becoming the most expensive Scottish export.
