Oleksandr Zinchenko signed for Arsenal from Manchester City in a £30million deal last summer and is clearly Mikel Arteta's preferred starter at left-back. Kieran Tierney has completed 90 minutes in the Premier League on just two occasions this season, filling in for Zinchenko when the Ukraine international was sidelined through injury.
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has already revealed his admiration for Tierney, but the Gunners defender could be in line for a summer exit after a difficult season in north London. The Scotland international has struggled with his own injury problems since arriving from Celtic in a £25million move four years ago.
The 25-year-old has more than 100 appearances for Arsenal, but his opportunities have been limited since the summer arrival of Zinchenko. Tierney was brought on as a late substitute in the 4-2 win against Aston Villa, but was left as an unused substitute in the four games prior to the trip to Villa Park.
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The Scottish defender was linked with a move away last summer, with title rivals Manchester City among those reportedly interested in signing him. Tierney's contract at the Emirates Stadium is set to expire in 2026 meaning Arsenal could still recoup a similar fee as to what they paid for him back in 2019.
Ferguson gave Tierney a glowing review back in 2021 during a Lockdown Theatre Live discussion. The iconic former manager said: “I do think Scotland have some very good midfield players, and I’m not sure how they’re gonna play [Andy] Robertson and Tierney in the same team.
"I know there were some situations where they played Tierney as the third centre-back, but the form of Tierney since he’s gone to Arsenal has been phenomenal.” Tierney has not started in the league since the Boxing Day victory over West Ham, with Zinchenko replacing him for the final 17 minutes.
The Ukrainian defender has started all eight of the games since, completing 90 minutes in six of them, and scored his first Arsenal goal in Saturday's victory over Aston Villa. After the win, Arteta said: "It took him [Zinchenko] too long [to score]!
"He's been practising on that and I'm so happy for him because obviously he had a difficult action with the first goal when he gave the ball away but he reacted really well." Zinchenko's impressive performance could spell the end of Tierney's time in north London with Nuno Tavares set to return in the summer as well.
Reports have revealed that Newcastle are interested in signing the Scottish full-back this summer as Eddie Howe continues to build a squad capable of challenging for European football. There is also reported interest from Italy, although Tierney's admission to being home sick in the Amazon: All or Nothing docuseries after swapping Glasgow for London in 2019 would likely rule out a move abroad.
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