Kieran Gibbs has urged Arsenal to not sell defender Kieran Tierney during this summer's transfer window.
Tierney had been one of the first names on Mikel Arteta's teamsheet prior to this season, with Oleksandr Zinchenko displacing the Scottish international in Arteta's starting XI this term. Zinchenko's ability to invert into midfield helped the north Londoners become a more dominant team, becoming much better in the build-up phase.
Despite the Ukrainian international picking up an injury earlier this month, Tierney still found himself on the bench over the weekend when the Gunners took on Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, indicating that he may not be in Arteta's future plans. The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to the likes of Newcastle United and Aston Villa but former Arsenal full-back Gibbs has told his old side not to sell the marauding left-back.
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“I think the way Mikel wants to play, it may not suit Kieran as much as it does Zinchenko,” Gibbs told ESPN. “So, that answers the question, in that respect.
"Then you are going to need to get somebody else in. It’s tough to go and find another Zinchenko that can basically play in midfield and is that versatile and fits that style.
“I wouldn’t want Kieran to go because I think he has the capability of performing at a high level in his position. I think Zinchenko is good enough defensively.
"But he shouldn’t have to do that much if Arsenal are that good. It’s the same conversation with Trent (Alexander-Arnold).”
Another former Arsenal defender has previously chimed in on Tierney's future at the Emirates Stadium, in the form of Bacary Sagna.
Sagna took a similar stance to Gibbs, telling the ex-Celtic star to fight for his place in north London. "Kieran Tierney should not leave Arsenal, it's a long project," the Frenchman told Midnite earlier this year.
"I was in the same situation at Man City when I joined, I was benched more than what I was used to. I took it as a challenge, from the second year I was the most used player alongside Nicolas Otamendi.
"Tierney needs to fight for his position, he should take the Oleksandr Zinchenko signing in a good way because it will make him work harder and make him better. Life is full of challenges and Tierney is facing one now.
"He's still young and one of the best in the league, and probably the world in the future if he continues to work hard. Zinchenko brings something different and is a top professional."
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