Transfer Talk: Arsenal should look to keep top-Tier Kieran

Kieran Tierney's future at Arsenal remains uncertain.

The Scottish left-back, 26, lost his place in the Gunners' starting XI to Oleksandr Zinchenko last season.

January arrival Jakub Kiwior — a centre-back by trade — also played ahead of him in the 5-0 victory over Wolves on the final day of the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.

With competition for minutes as fierce as ever at the Emirates, we take a look at what the future might hold for Tierney.

Tier-ful exit

Despite making just six Premier League starts last term, interest in the talented Tierney is still high.

Newcastle have been heavily linked with a move for the 39-cap international after they qualified for the Champions League, with Dan Burn and Matt Targett the only senior left-back options currently available to Eddie Howe.

And there are rumours of a return to boyhood club Celtic, who welcomed manager Brendan Rodgers back to Parkhead last month.

Tierney previously thrived under the Northern Irishman's guidance, playing a key role in the team's historic double treble from 2016 to 2018.

Happy Gunner

But while offers from Newcastle and Celtic will no doubt prove tempting, Tierney has stated he is far from downbeat at Arsenal.

The No3 said: "I'm happy, I'm working hard every day and getting minutes. I'm just trying to do as well as I can.

"You can't play every single game, every single season, every single year. I don't expect that and I still made a lot of appearances last year.

"I was ready every game and working 100%. I think everyone in there would agree with that, that I never give less than that whether I'm playing or not.

"In the games I did play I tried to do my best for the team. I came off the bench a lot last season, whether that was to see games out or help get a goal."

Pre-season promise

With Zinchenko absent due to a niggling calf injury, Tierney has been afforded more minutes in Arsenal's pre-season tour of the United States.

The Scotsman came off the bench in the 5-3 win over Barcelona on Wednesday and brilliantly assisted Leandro Trossard's second goal.

Tierney was also one of the Gunners' better performers in their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United, which led to Arteta insisting that the full-back is firmly in his future plans.

The Basque boss said: "He [Tierney] is in our plans.

"Every time he's played in pre-season, he's been really good. 

"This is why we want to create competition in the team, raise the level of each individual and that's going to be a huge benefit for the team to get to another level."

Different option

Arteta's desire to keep Tierney makes a lot of sense, not only because games are set to come thick and fast at Arsenal in 2023-24.

He can deputise as a left-sided centre-back when required and also offers something different at left-back.

While the Scotland regular does not possess the passing range of Zinchenko and Jurrien Timber, or the aerial ability of Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu, he sits above his competitors in terms of pace and crossing ability.

Over the last three Premier League seasons, Tierney ranks eighth among Arsenal players for assists with seven. 

Variety in key positions will be vital for the Gunners as they aim to take further strides on both the domestic and continental stages next season.