Mikel Arteta ready to lose Arsenal ‘star he loves’ as Premier League transfer eyed
It seems that Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, is open to the idea of allowing Kieran Tierney to leave the club in the upcoming summer transfer window, as Newcastle, another Premier League team, has shown interest in the player.
A few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine Tierney leaving Arsenal, as he was a crucial player in Arteta’s team. However, the addition of Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer has reduced Tierney’s importance at Arsenal this season.
Tierney has struggled with injuries during his time at Arsenal, having only played in 113 matches since joining the club in the summer of 2019. This season, he has appeared in 17 Premier League matches, but his actual playing time amounts to just 468 minutes, averaging less than 30 minutes per game.
This represents a significant drop from Tierney’s initial days at Arsenal, when Arteta clearly considered him to be one of the most essential players in the team. In 2020, several months after becoming Arsenal’s manager, Arteta expressed his admiration for Tierney.
When asked about Tierney’s down-to-earth attitude, which was demonstrated when he brought his belongings to a game in a Tesco bag rather than an expensive washbag equivalent, Arteta stated that it exemplified the kind of qualities he looks for in his players.
“He’s exactly what we need,” the Arsenal boss said of Tierney. “He’s the type of player I love. The Tesco bag is Kieran, he’s a very humble guy and does what he feels is right.”
As per the Daily Telegraph, Newcastle United is considering making a move for Tierney in the upcoming transfer window, although they might not be the only club interested if Arsenal decides to sell the left-back.
While Arsenal seems likely to qualify for the Champions League, Newcastle could also finish in the top four this season, which could bolster their chances of luring Tierney away from the Emirates.
Arteta has commented on the rumors surrounding Tierney’s potential departure from Arsenal, but he did not provide any concrete details when questioned further.
“I don’t know, I’m not thinking about it,” the Spaniard claimed. “I’m thinking about what’s best for the team and obviously and the players with the right to play minutes which they all deserve and we’re going to try to do that in the next couple of games.”
Arsenal’s upcoming challenge is a visit to Sporting Lisbon on Thursday evening in the Europa League round of 16. This competition could offer Tierney an opportunity to play, as Arteta may choose to give Zinchenko some rest for the Premier League matches.
Mikel Arteta ready to lose Arsenal ‘star he loves’ as Premier League transfer eyed
