Kieran Tierney’s role at Arsenal seems to be evolving as the Scottish defender continued in his new position against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw yesterday afternoon. Replacing Thomas Partey, Tierney was once again deployed in a more advanced role on the left wing.
This is a role he’s increasingly familiar with, having featured in the same position against PSV in the Champions League last-16 first-leg win earlier last week.
Soccer Football – Premier League – Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal – Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain – January 25, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts as Kieran Tierney waits to be substituted on Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR ‘LIVE’ SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..
Impact at Old Trafford
While Tierney’s new role may have raised some eyebrows, there’s no denying the positive impact he’s had in his limited time on the pitch. Against Manchester United, he came off the bench in the 76th minute and added a creative spark for the Gunners, providing energy and pace down the left wing. His performance in the final 14 minutes of the match at Old Trafford was met with praise from fans and pundits alike, as he looked dangerous and brought a sense of urgency to an Arsenal side struggling to break down United.
Arteta’s Faith in Tierney
However, it seems Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta doesn’t fully believe in Tierney’s long-term future at the club. Despite having the option to extend his contract by another year, Arsenal have allowed the Celtic-bound defender to sign a pre-contract deal with the Hoops. This decision raises questions about Arteta’s faith in Tierney, especially given his clear ability to offer something fresh off the bench when called upon.
A Possible Change in Management at Arsenal?
With the pressure mounting on Arteta, particularly as Arsenal has fallen further behind Liverpool in the Premier League title race, the situation could change. There is an outside chance that Arteta could be sacked before Tierney officially makes his move to Celtic. If that were to happen, it would be an example of the Spaniard not getting the most out of the team in front of him, particularly including Tierney, who he has wasted since taking charge in December 2019.
Kieran Tierney Brendan Rodgers
Soccer Football – Europa League – Celtic Training – Lennoxtown Training Centre, Glasgow, Britain – November 7, 2018 Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Kieran Tierney during training Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
The Bright Side for Celtic and Tierney
The positive for Celtic fans is that Tierney’s current role at Arsenal may actually work in their favour. He’s not being completely discarded, and he continues to get valuable game time off the bench in most matches. This should help him hit the ground running when he joins Celtic next season. There have been concerns over his fitness and injury record in recent years, but his recent appearances, especially in the final quarter of games, suggest he’s still getting the minutes needed to build his match sharpness.
Tierney’s move to Celtic is something many supporters are excited about, and with him continuing to feature for Arsenal in some capacity, it looks like he will be more than ready to make an impact at Celtic Park when the time comes next season.
Tees for Tims - Jota Celtic