Tierney the Tesco-bag using Scotland star loved by Gooners and UFC king McGregor

Adored by Bhoys supporters and a regular with the Scotland side, the 24-year-old moved to the Emirates nursing an injury and it was considered a huge step up.

When he finally burst into the team, another injury scuppered his progress and Arsenal fans were once again denied the sight of the short-sleeve wearing Scot rampaging down the left flank.

Yet now in this third season, it is clear Tierney is developing into a top class player for both club and country.

And Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes the full-back should be the club's new captain after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the armband.

Gunners fans however had long since identified Tierney's captaincy credentials that were on full display during the Premier League's stint behind closed doors,.

Supporters could hear Tierney barking out orders to his far more experienced colleagues - never afraid to speak his opinion, as was on display against rivals Tottenham back in March.

"Boys, we need to f****** score. How many chances?" he roared after another missed opportunity.

Yet there is no ego surrounding Tierney, he is not a player to shout for the sake of it. He is simply organising his troops and demanding as much from his players as he expects from himself.

The love affair between Arsenal fans and their humble hero reached unprecedented levels before an FA Cup game against Sheffield United during the 2019/20 season as he arrived at Bramall Lane clutching a Tesco bag containing his boots for the game.

If his appearance screamed Sunday League, then his performances have been anything but.

His club heroics have continued into the international stage, even when he is played somewhat out of position. With Andy Robertson captaining the side for Steve Clarke, Tierney has often found himself played in a back three.

Ever the consummate pro, the 24-year-old simply pulls his socks up and produces consistent performances - including providing three assists against the Faroe Islands back in March.

Scotland took part in their first major tournament since the World Cup in 1998 in France during Euro 2020 this summer.

And although the Tartan Army crashed out in the group stage, Tierney started and kept a clean sheet against the 'Auld Enemy' at Wembley.

Tierney was again integral to Scotland earning a World Cup play-off spot next year with his mental fortitude a key aspect of his game.

After all, this is a player who broke his leg the day before he was supposed to be named on the bench for Celtic's first team. Resilience is embedded into the very fabric of Tierney's being.

It is not just Arsenal, Celtic and Scotland fans who adore this rampaging and resolute defender. In fact, Tierney has transcended football completely and can quote one of the biggest stars in sport as a close friend.

Former two-weight UFC world champion and Forbes list regular Conor McGregor developed a close bond with the defender after a chance meeting at a UFC event in Belfast.

They stayed in contact over social media and Tierney even gifted him a signed shirt after McGregor's pals told the Scotland international the MMA superstar would be thrilled to receive it.

Speaking to the Daily Record in 2019, Tierney admitted he struggled to sleep out of excitement after seeing the former two-weight world champion actually wearing the shirt during a training session.

"Honestly, I couldn't sleep that night," he said. "He posted the picture at 10.50pm and I was sitting there thinking, 'No way.' That was me up the full night, and I went buzzing into training.

"I'm a massive fan, particularly the way he talks about positivity. It's all about mindset and how you react to people doubting you, and how to come back from defeats. Any athlete can relate to him."

When the former Celtic defender was sidelined for ten weeks with a groin injury towards the end of the 2018/19 season, it was McGregor who gave him some vital fitness tips to get back on the pitch.

He said: "Throughout my injury Connor McGregor was brilliant with me. He has a programme he does on the watt bike that helped him get fit and he was giving me tips on that, which was amazing.

"I was doing work on the watt bike with the Celtic physios anyway - that's what gets you fit through different programmes. But I found out his programme and had a look to see if mine was similar.

"I was still doing Celtic's programme but the little tips from him helped too. He's my biggest hero outside of football so it was amazing. I don't know how my results compared to his but it was pretty good.

"It was just brilliant to hear from him. When you're injured you always feel a bit lower than usual because you're not out on the pitch training with everyone.

"To hear from your hero and get advice from him lifted me that wee bit."

Despite regularly joking with Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos on Instagram and even meeting Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, McGregor admitted before his UFC comeback last year that Tierney is actually his favourite player.

"He rose up and is a phenomenal, phenomenal football player," the Irishman gushed about the Arsenal left-back.

"I am in conversation with him a lot. He is a great guy, a good kid and I'm rooting for him."

You can be sure McGregor will be keeping a close eye out for his pal if Tierney creates history once again by becoming Arsenal's next captain.