Kieran Tierney issues emphatic response on Arsenal return amid left-back woes

05 January 2024 , 11:18

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Kieran Tierney issues emphatic response on Arsenal return amid left-back woes

Kieran Tierney has made clear that he will not be cutting short his loan spell at Real Sociedad to return to Arsenal this month.

The Scotland international is currently lining up for the Spanish outfit after joining on a temporary basis in the summer. Tierney found first-team football hard to come by at the Emirates last season, falling below both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu in the pecking order at left-back.

To ensure he is fighting fit for Scotland's Euro 2024 hopes, Tierney left north London in search of regular minutes. Though he has had to deal with injury issues out in Spain, the former Celtic man has impressed with the game time he has enjoyed.

Tierney is part of a Sociedad defence that have conceded just two goals in their last five league outings and things are looking up. However, the same cannot be said for his parent club Arsenal, who have shipped four in their last two league games and have seen their title hopes take a blow.

Zinchenko has struggled desperately at left-back in recent weeks, while Tomiyasu has been unavailable due to injury and since jetted off for the Asia Cup with the Japan national side. As a result, Mikel Arteta's men are looking notably light at left-back, sparking suggestions that Tierney could be recalled to help out.

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Tierney has since commented on the rumours, claiming: "Several people have already asked me if I was going to return to Arsenal now and the answer is no. I'm going to stay here for sure. As for staying here longer, the decision is not mine."

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Kieran Tierney is enjoying an impressive run of form for Real Sociedad (Getty Images)

Tierneys comments, if anything, read like a man keen on staying in Sociedad beyond this season. Whether Arsenal are willing to sign off on his permanent departure given their left-back issues remains to be seen.

For the first time in his Arsenal career, first-choice left-back Zinchenko is under mounting pressure amid calls from fans to take him out of the side after a string of disappointing displays. With that being said, the ex-Manchester City man has received backing from one Gunners legend in David Seaman.

"Kieran Tierney gives you more in defence, Oleksandr Zinchenko gives you more in attack when he drops into midfield," the goalkeeping great told his podcast. "I know there’s been a lot of attention on him but it is about defending as a team. I hate singling players out."

Josh O'Brien