Excitement is building as Kieran Tierney’s anticipated return to Celtic edges closer.
Tierney will become a Celtic player for the second time once his contract at Arsenal expires at the end of the month.
The left-back departed Celtic Park in 2019 to join the Gunners and has had a stop-start spell in north London due to injuries.
Celtic fans are excited to see Tierney back in the green and white, but how do Arsenal fans feel about losing the full-back for nothing?
67 Hail Hail spoke to Arsenal Insider’s Rosie Tudball to get the lowdown on how the club’s supporters have reacted to Tierney’s exit.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
What is the feeling around Arsenal about Kieran Tierney returning to Celtic?
“I think it would be fair to say that fans are gutted with how things have turned out for KT, but at the same time, there’s no club better for him to depart to than Celtic.
“Arsenal fans are well aware of Tierney’s love for his boyhood club, and knowing that he’ll be taken care of there, there aren’t many complaints about him re-signing for the Hoops.”
How would Arsenal fans rate Tierney’s time at the club?
“It’s difficult to rate Tierney’s time at Arsenal, mainly due to the fact that he never put a foot wrong.
MORE CELTIC STORIES
“What ultimately defined his time in North London were things out of his control, making it difficult to rate him fairly.
“When on the pitch, Tierney was mostly faultless; the same can be said about his attitude at the club, but with regard to injuries and competition, things were more negative.
“I personally don’t believe that any Arsenal fan would have a bad thing to say about KT in any capacity.”
What’s changed about Kieran Tierney since he joined Arsenal?
Tierney has certainly grown as a player, but admittedly, he arrived as a model professional.
If anything, the defender will be recharged and raring to prove himself by learning from Arteta and those around him who play very differently from him.
What will you miss about Kieran Tierney?
“His reliability when available. Though the Scotsman’s reliability with regard to injury can’t be vouched for, it was guaranteed that when he was on the pitch, he’d be giving 100%.
“Many also thought he would one day be captain of Arsenal, so his leadership qualities and overall passion for the game will be missed in the squad for sure.”
What can Kieran Tierney bring to Celtic this time?
“He’s certainly grown since he joined Arsenal, but it’s been such a difficult time for him due to competition and injury.
“Having learned the inverted role, Tierney could come armed with an even greater attacking string to his bow, but he was never poor in that area, admittedly.”
“I think he’ll be desperate to play, especially for Celtic, whom he loves so dearly.
Was it the right time to let Kieran Tierney return to Celtic?
“As mentioned earlier, if there was one club we, as Arsenal fans, wanted to see Tierney leave to join, it was Celtic.
“Knowing that he’ll be comfortable and loved is everything we could wish for him and more, which is exactly why it was time to let him go; he can’t afford to let his talent be wasted with limited game time.”