Kieran Tierney will return to Celtic a far better player according to Emmanuel Petit.
Tierney's Arsenal chapter will close this summer after the Gunners opted not to exercise an option to extend his contract for a further 12 months, with Celtic stepping in to seala pre-contract that will see the full-back return to his boyhood club on a free transfer - linking up with Brendan Rodgers once again.
Despite making the switch to North London in a then-Scottish record £25million move six years ago, Tierney has gone from future skipper to bench warmer at the Emirates. And injuries have played a significant part and the Scotland star spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad.
Even when fit, however, he has found himself on the outside looking in under Mikel Arteta, who has been using Tierney recently out of necessity due to injuries further up the pitch.
And Gunners legend Petit is sure Celtic are getting a better player back than the one that left, and that Tierney feeling appreciated is key in order to recapture his form and confidence. "Whatever people will say about Kieran Tierney, I think he’s been really unlucky with injuries and, whether or not you think his transfer to Arsenal was a success or not, he’s grown as a footballer," he told PokerFirma.
"He’s gained some incredible experiences that will only benefit Celtic and his team-mates. He was a key player for Arsenal, and then he got injured. They spoke of him as a future captain at one point. He lost his spot, and then he and the courage to go and try something different and went and played in La Liga for a season with Real Sociedad.
Kieran Tierney of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16
Tierney has struggled for game time in recent seasons at Arsenal (Image: Getty Images)
"Celtic will be getting a better player back than the one they sold, it’s never been a question of ability, it’s always fitness. Tierney lost his spot in the first 11, he came back, and they moved on, they signed Zinchenko to play as inverted fullback.
"I presume that when you lose that confidence from the manager, when you are not considered as a top player or a first choice, then you lose your confidence a bit and I can understand that sometimes a player wants to feel at home, to feel loved.
"This is why I think that going back to his boyhood club Celtic will be a good choice for him. He’s going back to where he came from to try to rebuild himself. It’s very important for a player to feel desired and for a player to contribute. He will be able to do that at Celtic."