Kieran Tierney is exactly the kind of player Arsenal fans love. He embodies commitment, passion and an understanding of what it means to play for such a historic football club.
It was that understanding and respect towards his team-mates which prompted him to confront Ezgjan Alioski at full-time following the Gunners' 0-0 draw with Leeds United.
Alioski had earlier exaggerated contact after Pepe's show of petulance where the referee was left with no choice but to send him off.
After the game Arsenal's players could be seen laughing and swapping shirts with their opposition players. Many of them know each other from playing against or with eachother in the past.
Gabriel and Raphinha played together with Avai FC, a second division side based in Brazil where both players started their careers.
Similarly, Shkodran Mustafi and Rodrigo were in deep discussions before the game after playing at Valencia for two seasons between 2014 and 2016.
While Xhaka and Alioski's relationship stretches back to the Swiss league where they had faced eachother on multiple occasions.
Only a couple of the Arsenal players looked genuinely angry at the full-time whistle and Tierney was certainly one of them. He tried to make a beeline for Alioski but was pushed away by Xhaka, who was laughing and joking with his opposite number, in an almost dismissive manner.
Tierney has a history of backing his team-mates. A tweet was posted shortly after the incident which showed various occasions where he's confronted opposition players this season. He rarely goes over the top, yet always makes sure that his opponent knows what he thinks.
The most impressive trait to Tierney is that he has the talent to back it up, as Keown alludes to.
"Tierney typified that spirit in the game itself, too. He’s not just at the back trying to keep a clean sheet.
"He bombs forward and puts in those extra yards for his team.
"Tierney might have felt incensed to see Granit Xhaka with his arm around Alioski at the end of the game after what had happened.
‘I would have certainly felt like that if I’d seen one of my team-mates practically fraternising with the enemy.
"Xhaka then pushed Tierney away from the situation when he tried to confront Alioski. But the dust will settle from that incident. Tierney is just the type of personality Arsenal need in their team."
There were many friendships on the pitch at Elland Road on Sunday night, including Tierney who was facing his Scotland team-mate and Leeds captain Liam Cooper. The difference was that once the final whistle went you could see the frustration written all over his face, while the bulk of his team-mates had clearly seen it as a 'completed job'.
Throughout the second half at Elland Road there was a constant presence down the left hand side of Tierney trying to make things happen with Bukayo Saka. Their mutual understand is one of the positives to take from 2020 and Mikel Arteta's reign at Arsenal so far, and long may it continue.
Having played three times for Scotland during the international break Tierney could have easily been rested for the match at Elland Road. However, his never say die attitude and evident enthusiasm to back his team-mates and play for the badge have already made him a fans' favourite - and future captain material too.
