Kieran Tierney has been backed to start Arsenal's huge title showdown with Manchester City over Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Celtic diehard was handed a rare English Premier League start as the Gunners dropped two crucial points at West Ham. Mikel Arteta's men - like against Liverpool - came out the traps flying and found themselves two goals up inside the opening ten minutes. Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard had the league leaders in dream land but the Hammers got back into the contest through Said Benrahma's spot-kick.
Bukayo Saka was then guilty of missing from 12-yards with the score still 2-1 before David Moyes' men completed their stunning comeback through Jarrod Bowen. It leaves the North London outfit four points clear of Pep Guardiola's side having played a game more with a huge showdown at the Etihad on the horizon.
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Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon expressed his delight at seeing Scotland star Tierney back in from the start hailing him a 'magnificent' player when fit and firing and has even backed him to play a starring role in the huge title showdown due to being a 'better defender' than the man who has been keeping him out of the team this season.
Speaking to the BBC, Lennon said: “I’m delighted Tierney is back in the team, he’s a great player. He’s had his injury problems over the years but when he’s fit and strong, he’s magnificent.
"I think he will play more in the run-in because he’s a better defender than Zinchenko. Defensively, he will give Arsenal far more security.
“Zinchenko is very good going forward, manipulating the ball in tight areas when he goes into that inverted full-back position whereas Kieran wouldn’t have as soft feet as Zinchenko but he’s a better defender.
"I definitely think he will play at the Etihad against Manchester City as well.”
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