Arsenal

I agree with Mikel Arteta’s decision to drop me – I’ll still probably leave Arsenal in summer

Current rumors and news surrounding Arsenal, including Kieran Tierney’s admission that his long-term future with the team is unclear after spending a season on loan at Real Sociedad

I agree with Mikel Arteta's decision to drop me - I'll still probably leave Arsenal in summer

Kieran Tierney has talked about his future with Arsenal (Image: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

According to Kieran Tierney, there is “every chance” that he will permanently leave Arsenal this summer.


Tierney is presently playing in La Liga on loan with Real Sociedad. Despite dealing with some injury concerns this season, Tierney has made 22 appearances for the Spanish club as a left-back.

Tierney has missed eighteen games for Sociedad this season due to two different hamstring injuries and his current adductor injury. This week, when Sociedad plays Barcelona on Monday night, he might return.


In 2019, Arsenal acquired Tierney from Celtic for an estimated sum of £25 million. He continued to be the Gunners’ first-choice left back until Oleksandr Zinchenko joined from Manchester City in 2022.

Tierney made 27 Premier League appearances in the previous season, but manager Mikel Arteta only selected him as a starter six times. The left-back has now spoken out about his future with the Gunners, acknowledging that it’s likely he’ll be heading out of the Emirates Stadium once more.

When asked if he might have already played his final game for Arsenal, Tierney responded, “There is every chance,” to The Athletic. “Check out that position’s squad depth right now.

“They have [Jakub] Kiwior, [Takehiro] Tomiyasu, [Jurrien] Timber, and [Oleksandr] Zinchenko.” There is room for four players to play. I’m not foolish, therefore I know that chances are I’ll be leaving if I return and everything is the same as before.

“But in football, you never know. It’s not common to see someone who played for four years, left, and then returned to play again, but it did happen with [William] Saliba, who returned to the team after a few successful seasons (on loan).

Stranger incidents have occurred. There is a place for me there, and I could go back. I’m ready for both, therefore.

Tierney continued by acknowledging that he has no ill will toward Arsenal or Arteta for choosing to sign Zinchenko before him. According to Tierney, he respects Arteta’s decision and thinks the previous two seasons demonstrate that it was the right one.

Tierney declared, “I have no ill will or jealousy toward anyone.” “I comprehend the manager’s choice to move me from position 1 to position 2. Football is being played.

“It was never a personal experience. It was strategic. When you look at it, Arteta was 100% right when he believed that getting Arsenal results was the best course of action. They came very close to winning the league the previous season, and I believe they will this time around.

“Arsenal supporters are incredible.” Fans still comment, “We wish you were here,” on anything I or Sociedad post. Since I’m no longer around, they could easily just forget about me, which makes me happy.

 

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