Mikel Arteta faces one huge selection headache ahead of Arsenal's trip to Southampton. Many of the Gunners players have made themselves 'undroppable' this season with the team in scintillating form, but there is one dilemma.
Who starts at left-back? It does not appear as though Oleksandr Zinchenko will be fit as he continues to recover from his calf problem, leaving Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu to battle it out for the spot on the left side of the defence.
Tomiyasu is not naturally a left-back, but has been given the nod in the position since he pocketed Mohammed Salah in Arsenal's 3-2 win over Liverpool at the start of the month. It's harsh on Tierney, who started at left-back against PSV Eindhoven in midweek, with Tomiyasu shifting over to the right.
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The Japan international was taken off after 75 minutes against PSV, indicating that Arteta was saving him for the clash at St Mary's. If he does not make the XI, it'll be the fifth league game in a row that Tierney hasn't started.
Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has called on Tierney to 'stand up and fight' for his place, with Tomiyasu appearing to have the edge over him at the moment.
“As a player, you’ve got to wait for your opportunity, and the one thing that Kieran Tierney has got to worry about is that Tomiyasu has played the last two league games ahead of him on that left-hand side," Campbell told Ladbrokes Fanzone.
“I could understand it against Liverpool; that decision made sense to me because the right-footed left-back really helped in keeping Mo Salah quiet and stopped him from coming inside as he so often does.
“But I can’t answer that question as to why Tomiyasu started ahead of Tierney against Leeds on the weekend. You might say it was a reward or recognition for the job he did against Liverpool, but there’s been a Europa League game since then, and Tierney played in that.
"What’s the message that’s going to Kieran Tierney at the moment? As a player you want to feel as though you’re battling for your position; now is the time for Tierney to stand up and fight for his spot, and prove he’s the right man. I’d say watch this space because it’s a really intriguing battle to watch.”
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