Kieran Tierney 'one of world's best' as ex-teammate turns ally over 'strange' Arsenal call

Kieran Tierney is one of the best full-backs in world football, according to his ex-Scotland teammate Stephen O'Donnell.

The defender is on his way out of Arsenal with the Gunners putting a £10million tag on his head as they get ready to offload him permanently following a loan at Real Sociedad. Prior to the last couple of years, his £25million move from Celtic appeared to be going swimmingly with the 27-year-old playing regularly when fit and picking up a club player of the year award.

But he was frozen out by Mikel Arteta which prompted him to seek regular football elsewhere. O'Donnell, who played with Tierney in the international set-up, couldn't understand that and insists he is up there with anyone else on the planet when he manages to stay fit.

He said: "Kieran, if he stays fit, is one of the best full-backs in the world, without question. He is a top player, a top guy and if he is playing we will certainly be a better outfit with him. He has great qualities.

"I still found it a bit strange what happened to him at Arsenal. Obviously, I wasn't there, but he was one of their players of the year the season before and then he goes out on loan [to Sociedad].

"When he first broke through at Celtic he was incredible and to then move on and go where he's been is great. At one point he was linked with Real Madrid and that was maybe a 'what if' moment if he managed to stay fit, but you can't have everything. I'm honestly really delighted to see him back and see him going to the Euros. Hopefully we see him kick on."