The Gunners finally landed the Scotland international on transfer deadline day, with a former favourite at Parkhead expecting him to thrive in England
Kieran Tierney will be a “sensation” for Arsenal, says Celtic legend Davie Hay, with the Gunners considered to have landed themselves a bargain in a £25 million ($30m) transfer deadline day deal.
After several weeks of speculation regarding the 22-year-old full-back, he was finally prised away from Parkhead before the summer window slammed shut in England.
Celtic had been understandably reluctant to part with a prized asset, with an academy graduate having flourished after stepping onto a senior stage in Glasgow.
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Hay, though, acknowledges that the lure of the Premier League was always going to be too great, with Tierney now ready to show a wider audience just how good he can be.
The Hoops icon told the Evening Times: “The moment Kieran Tierney burst onto the scene four years ago as a 17-year-old, which is when he made his debut, and who played as if he was a seasoned pro, I quickly concluded that one day a club from a bigger league, and importantly with a lot of money, would come in with a record bid.
“It didn’t take long for most of us to realise the Celtic had produced a real gem. The best we’ve seen in a long time. That this was a lad who could play anywhere he wanted. Keeping Tierney a secret was never on the cards.
“Arsenal bid £10million for him when he was 19. That was knocked back. They were never going to go away forever. Everton had a nibble a year ago. God knows how many other clubs have sent a scout to Celtic Park
“KT was always, one day, going to say his goodbye to the club he will always support to go on an adventure.”
Hay added: “Arsenal have done well to get him for £25million and I’m sure most Celtic supporters, while disappointed, understand why one of their own is now an English Premier League player.
“How good is he? I was fortunate to play with Tommy Gemmell and Danny McGrain. I have no hesitation putting young Kieran in that bracket in terms of the great full-backs produced by Celtic.
“My guess is that Tierney didn’t want to leave Celtic. There was no banging on Neil Lennon’s door, he didn’t put in a transfer request and never once spoke about playing elsewhere.
“However, some opportunities are too good for anyone to turn down.
“Arsenal haven’t won so much in recent times; however, we are talking about a huge club in a fantastic league, and it’s a team which I believe is getting better.
“I have no fear about Tierney being good enough. He is going to be a sensation.”
Tierney will be hoping to make an immediate impact in a new-look Arsenal side, with it possible that a number of fresh faces will line up for the Gunners in their 2019-20 season opener away at Newcastle on Sunday.