Arsenal signed Kieran Tierney in the summer and the Scot is already becoming one of the fan favorite at the Emirates. Ahead of Tierney’s meet with former boss Brendan Rodgers on Saturday, Rodgers revealed that Arsenal tried to sign Kieran in summer of 2016 when he’d just take over as manager of Celtic.
And after a lengthy conversation with Tierney, Celtic persuaded him to sign a new extended contract.
Rodgers won treble with Celtic in consecutive seasons which was followed by another Scottish League Cup before he left Celtic to take charge of Leicester City.
“He’s gone into Arsenal, a really competitive team and a huge club, and it takes that little bit of time to settle,” said Rodgers.
“He’s gone from one big city to another, leaving behind his family and friends in Glasgow, so it’s been a period of adaptation for him. I’ve got no doubt he will do very, very well in his time.”
Reflecting on why Tierney so caught his eye, he went on: “As a player, in the first week working with him, I could see after two or three days why there was a lot of clamor for him.
“From that moment he was absolutely brilliant for me. He became stronger, more powerful, very aggressive in his game.
“He worked hard every single day but he was also a strong boy mentally, and he had a lot of good mentors. Scott Brown was an incredible captain for me, and he (Tierney) took on that mantle to try and be like him.
“Every day in training he was very focused on becoming better, and obviously he loved Celtic as a club. He supported the club, and that gave him that extra one per cent every time he played.
“So as a player he was fantastic, and he captained the team for me on a few occasions as well, but also a great boy, very humble, just wanting to be the very best he can be.”
Arsenal’s move for Tierney was in summer of 2016 as they approached Celtic for the now 22-year-old in Rodgers’ first week in charge of the club in May 2016.
“Peter (Lawwell, chief executive) had said to me – and he was very honest about it – there was a possibility of Kieran going to Arsenal, but there was no rush for Celtic to sell him, and there was a big offer at the time,” revealed Rodgers.
“So I spoke to Kieran, told him I wanted him to stay, to be a big part of what we were doing, and between him and the club, a new deal was agreed, and he stayed until he went in the summer.”
