Kieran Tierney hails Arsenal spirit after Community Shield win

Scotland star says Mikel Arteta has instilled real belief in Gunners squad

Kieran Tierney, right, vies with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during Saturday's Community Shield showdown. Picture: Justin Tallis/pool via Getty Images

Kieran Tierney is excited about what the future holds for Arsenal after the Gunners edged out Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield on Saturday evening.

Mikel Arteta’s men won 5-4 in the shootout at an empty Wembley after Jurgen Klopp’s side had come from behind to draw 1-1 in normal time.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winning penalty at the end of a match that started with the Arsenal skipper scoring a superb early opener.

January acquisition Takumi Minamino came off the bench to level, with his first Liverpool goal, but the Premier League champions ultimately had to settle for second best as Arsenal lifted the Shield for the 15th time.

Arteta’s side now go into the campaign buoyed by August’s FA Cup success and Saturday’s win, with Scotland defender Tierney delighted with the way things are going under the Spanish manager.

“The spirit is one of the main things in the changing room, belief and spirit and we’ve got that, we’re building on it,” the former Celtic full-back said.

“We’re just looking to continue and keep building this way.

“I think that comes from the manager and the staff. It’s continued from what we’ve done last season and building on it. When we came back in last week we’ve just continued.

“We’ve never had too long off so last season doesn’t feel too long ago. Coming into games like this we’re starting to believe more and more and I think that’s what it’s all about, belief and spirit.

“Mikel’s drilled that into us since day one, defensive organisation and the transition.

“That’s what we do every day in training, we watch videos on it. It’s not by luck and it’s not by chance. It’s by hard work. The fans and the club deserve to be in the Champions League.

“They deserve to be top four and we want to do as well as we can, as best as we can and put up a fight in every single game we come up against this year.”

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk says Klopp’s men “shouldn’t panic” after their weekend loss, especially having bounced back from defeat in last year’s match by romping to the Premier League title.

The circumstances were almost identical to last year’s shootout loss to Manchester City and ex-Celtic man Van Dijk is keeping in mind the way things improved for the side after that curtain-raiser.

“I think their main chance was the goal,” the Holland captain said. “It was a good finish but we should have done better there and shouldn’t have let him come onto his right foot, but obviously he finished it off.

“During the whole game we played well, dominated, pressed them well and created many chances.

“Obviously in the end penalties is just a lottery and anything can happen. We are disappointed but we have to move on. Last year we lost on penalties as well and we won the league so we shouldn’t panic, but obviously we wanted to win today.”

Minamino’s goal capped a promising display by the Japan international and Van Dijk added: “I think Taki has been very good. After lockdown he has been the Taki that we all saw when we played against him at Salzburg.

“It’s good for him that he’s coming out of his shell and for us as well.”

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