Tony Cascarino has hailed Kieran Tierney as the Scottish Psycho who lifts players around him like Roy Keane and Paul McGrath.
Tierney joined Arsenal in August 2019 but an injury-hit first campaign saw him manage just 15 Premier League appearances.
Tierney joined Arsenal from Celtic for £25m and is proving a bargain buy for the Gunners
There was talk of an early exit, but the left-back has already played 15 times in the league this season and has been one of the few shining lights for the Gunners in a disappointing campaign so far.
The 23-year-old has the most crosses for the club since he joined with 67 while the next nearest player, Bukayo Saka, has just 39.
He also gives away a foul every 191 minutes, significantly less than the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles (77), David Luiz (80) and Hector Bellerin (82).
Cascarino was impressed with the Scotland international during Arsenals 1-0 win over Brighton this week and how he inspired his teammates.
He sees similarities with Stuart Pearce, the no-nonsense England legend known as ‘Psycho’ in his playing days, while he complared the influence he has on his side to that McGrath and Keane had in his Republic of Ireland career.
Tierney won the FA Cup with Arsenal in his first season at the club and has been excellent this term
Cascarino wrote in The Times: I was shivering in the cold as the Arsenal team stepped off their coach and walked past me to the changing rooms at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday. The players were wrapped up in several layers all except one. Kieran Tierney was in a short-sleeved T-shirt, oblivious to the bitter weather.
“To add to this image of a player with absolute focus, the Scotland international had an almost manic look of determination in his eyes. Then the game started and Tierney quickly made a crunching challenge on a Brighton & Hove Albion player. Stuart Pearce, another left back, came to mind and I thought: Here is the Scottish Psycho.
Pearce won 78 caps for England and was one of the toughest players of his generation
“Tierney has been terrific in a difficult season for Arsenal. His contributions have probably helped to keep Mikel Arteta, the manager, in a job.
I remember being lifted by playing just ahead of Roy Keane and Paul McGrath with Ireland.
“They inspired me by their example, and Tierney does the same. His team-mates trust that he will cover for them, will never pull out of a challenge and never decide not to make a run.