Tierney speaks out on "alien" role at Arsenal and chances of completing exit

15 February 2024 , 05:57

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Kieran Tierney is on loan at Real Sociedad until the end of the season (Image: Real Sociedad TV)

Kieran Tierney has discussed how difficult he found adjusting to Mikel Arteta's tactical tweaks at Arsenal before he left for Real Sociedad on loan.

The ex-Celtic star arrived in north London for a fee of around £25million in the summer of 2019 and though there has been some positive moments in that time, the bulk of Tierney's Arsenal stay has been blighted by injury issues. Last term saw the Scotland international make just six league starts after he was demoted to second-choice left-back following the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The Ukraine international was purchased from Manchester City and made an immediate impact, reducing Tierney to a bench role in the process. Zinchenko's remarkable technical ability made him the perfect candidate to operate in the inverted role that Arteta wanted - something Tierney concedes he struggled with at first.

"At Arsenal the left-back can be one of the most central players in the team,” Tierney explained to the Guardian. "If it’s Oleksandr Zinchenko then he is one of the biggest creators from a central position.

"When that got introduced it was alien to me. I had never played centre midfield, I started as a winger. I was trying to learn that when I was at Arsenal.

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"When you see how well it works it is hard to question it. My choice was to just get on with it and learn and I got to practice it with one of the best. It’s so natural to Zinchenko, he makes it look so easy."

Though Tierney has issued a glowing review, that's not to say Zinchenko isn't without flaws himself. The 27-year-old has been questioned at times this term for his defensive ability, with some fans and pundits suggesting he is the weak link within the Arsenal back-line.

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Kieran Tierney has discussed losing his Arsenal place to Oleksandr Zinchenko before joining Real Sociedad on loan

Some even called for Tierney's return from Sociedad, but the Scot is set to stay in Spain for at least the remainder of the campaign and seems excited by that prospect. Though the left-back still has two years left on his Arsenal contract, he has opened up on how he's finding life in San Sebastian.

Pressed for comment on his long-term future with the Gunners, Tierney added: "It’s hard to say. I loved my time there and I still have two years on the contract.

"I am very grateful to Arsenal. I don’t know what’s going to happen but I am absolutely loving it here. I feel I have adapted quite well and I hope I can return the faith the club have shown. This is a very, very talented squad with world-class players and so many have come from the academy. It’s an amazing story."

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Josh O'Brien