Arsenal Defender Kieran Tierney Opens Up On Mental Health In Arsenal: All Or Nothing

Arsenal’s fly-on-the-wall documentary ‘All or Nothing’ dropped last night, and the peering behind the curtain at London Colney has been illuminating. 

One thing that became immediately apparent as the first three episodes progressed was the importance placed on mental health.

Society has gradually progressed to become increasingly understanding and supportive of mental health, and the documentary tackles the reality of mental health in sport.

In an open, vulnerable scene shot at his house, Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney spoke of the difficulties moving from Scotland to London provided, and how deeply he struggled with the transition. 

The Scotsman opened up to the Amazon production team on the struggles:

“It was really hard to start with [moving down to London], I was really struggling.

“[It] was a really low point, was homesick, it was terrible to start with.

Kieran Tierney speaking about the difficulties of moving to a new city.

“Outside training, you have a lot of time to think. I’m not saying I was in a bad place where I was suicidal or that. But my friends have been”

Tierney goes onto to talk about the struggle and pain of depression, and having lost friends to suicide:

“Two or three of them have committed suicide, lost their life, and like, you’re with these people, and you don’t know a thing because they’ve not spoke.

“So I think I feel a certain responsibility to try and help as much as I can because I kind of know how it feels to be in a certain place.

“Looking back now it was hard”

Speaking with such vulnerability whilst under the intense spotlight that comes with being a professional footballer can only be commended.

Kieran Tierney speaking on the past.

Since joining Arsenal in 2019 from Celtic, the 25-year-old has struggled with injuries. Despite that, he has endeared himself to the Gunners faithful and become a fan favourite.

Were it not for those injuries causing an issue to regular availability, he may well have been the new captain for the coming season instead of Martin Odegaard.

Regardless, you don’t need an armband to be a leader and vocalise support for what you believe in, as Tierney demonstrated in the documentary.

If you are struggling with mental health, you are not alone:

Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: [email protected], or text SHOUT to 85258

Topics: Arsenal, Kieran Tierney, Mikel Arteta

Jake Lennard

Jake is an Arsenal writer and contributor to SPORTbible, specialising on player features and tactical analysis.

@JakeAL_