Kieran Tierney would have been a young kid when he watched Celtic beat the might of Barcelona in the Champions League in 2012.
Celtic’s win over Barcelona was unforgettable and will be remembered forever by those in green and white colours.
Fast forward to the present, and Tierney got to experience a memorable European night first-hand, in the colours of Arsenal, as Real Madrid were taken apart at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Arsenal beat Real Madrid 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, with Declan Rice netting two outrageous free-kicks and Mikel Merino scoring the other goal.
With ten minutes left on the clock, and Mikel Arteta trying to ensure his team doesn’t give Madrid any sort of hope heading into the second leg, Tierney was brought into the action for the hero of the night, Rice.
This was a moment the Celtic hero simply deserved, and he didn’t disappoint.
Arsenal fans laud Celtic hero Kieran Tierney after stunning win vs Real Madrid in the Champions League
Tierney is popular for a reason, and he has been through some rough roads over the years, with his injury issues and loan spells.
But one thing hasn’t changed, and that’s his commitment to whoever he is representing; that’s why Arsenal fans on social media were delighted that he was a part of the win vs Real Madrid.
The Arsenal fans made sure to give Tierney his flowers, how they want him to lift the Champions League, and how he put in a strong cameo when he came onto the pitch.
@rafsenal was over the moon: ‘By the way I am so glad knowing Kieran Tierney gets to be a part of this’.
@MattCJ19 made a brilliant point: ‘Kieran Tierney coming on vs Real Madrid while 3-0 up (after being great whenever called upon), after all the adversity he’s gone through at Arsenal, is a really lovely moment’.
@rebeccamariaxo remembers: ‘Just glad the players who were with us in the trenches got to play against Madrid. Saka, Martinelli and Tierney. Hate Big Gabi missed this’.
@orehnato continued the theme: ‘I’ll always appreciate Kieran Tierney. Super happy he played tonight and was part of this historic night to the club’.
@Male_Bosss loved the change: ‘One tactical change that Arteta did yesterday is bringing Tierney for Rice, what a coach’.
@iGhostAccount spoke the truth: ‘Kieran Tierney is what we call a professional. He came in and balled in his first season. Got derailed by injuries. Loaned out to La Liga. Came back injured. Recovered and trained every single day without complaining. Got back into the squad and is getting minutes’.
@AJ__SR7 wants Tierney to stay: ‘Is it too late to keep Tierney?’.
@SamMogich, keeping it real: ‘Kieran Tierney gets a medal’.
@DaRealDonreal loved that Tierney was brought on: ‘One thing I noticed yesterday was Arteta never brought on Jorginho. I thought he would when Rice went down but it was Tierney instead. Is he finally learning?’
@AFC_OlaitaN is another who wants Tierney to stay: ‘Is it still possible to cancel that Kieran Tierney’s free transfer deal….?’
@paniniboy7 gave Tierney his flowers: ‘Rice sensational, Saka sensational, Lewis-Skelly sensational, Saliba sensational, Tierney UCL cameo sensational,Timber sensational, Merino sensational, 2 perfect free kicks and Vini Jr hall of shame performance. Still in shock’.
@LondonBoy_____ stated: ‘Tierney getting minutes was the best thing. And he was flawless, why the hell are we letting him go, there is still a use for him’.
@NSftbl has locked in Tierney’s cameo: ‘My brother Kieran Tierney, I know that many will forget, but you best believe I’ll remember this cameo forever’.
More love for the left-back from @Jastol_Official: ‘I will miss Tierney man….. he saved us big time when injury no wan allow Tomiyasu and Calafiori rest’.
@artetwitta says only one man gets to tuck in his shirt: ‘Tierney actually took it personally that Bellingham tucked in his shirt in his back yard’.
Another call for Tierney to win the UCL, this time from @AfcLuke10: ‘I NEED Arsenal to win the CL this season purely for Tierney – our greatness must come before he departs’.
@AFCMO1 rated Tierney’s sub appearance: ‘That Tierney sub was brilliant from Arteta. One workhorse off for another, Tierney is still a massive fan favourite. What a shift he put in, you cannot dislike the guy’.
Tierney in the second leg at Real Madrid
The Celtic Park faithful will no doubt be cheering Tierney on, and hoping he ends his Arsenal career in the highest and best way possible.
Those Rice free-kicks will be talked about for years, years and years now.
But, with Arsenal having such a healthy lead, and needing to produce a defensive masterclass at the Santiago Bernabeu, then don’t be surprised if Tierney plays a bigger role in the return leg.
He earned just over ten minutes in the first leg, but you presume he will be needed and used a lot more in Madrid, because Carlo Ancelotti’s side are going to come at Arsenal like a hungry animal.
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