Arsenal have started the season in the exact fashion they began the previous campaign with two wins and a home draw in the third clash. The mood is still in need of a lift following the perceived injustice of Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton and the injuries suffered by summer signings Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori – although the latter is hoped not to be too serious.
Several players are on the mend from other issues. Gabriel Jesus is hoping to make a return soon while Takehiro Tomiyasu continues his recovery from an injury suffered in pre-season which cost him any preparation.
The dark horse of the group however is Kieran Tierney. The Scotland international suffered a serious hamstring problem at the Euros which ended his tournament and his hopes of a summer exit from Arsenal which looked almost a formality following his loan spell with Real Sociedad.
Arteta said in mid-August that he would be missing for a few weeks and he has since begun individual training and therefore looking into the final three months of the year for when Tierney could be back makes the most sense. When he is fit, where he fits into the squad is in itself a question.
Arteta has as many as five potential left-back options before Tierney comes into the conversation. The aforementioned Tomiyasu himself is behind Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior.
Arteta even used exciting teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly in the position in pre-season and he impressed when given opportunities despite primarily being known as a midfielder. Unlike many of those on the list, Tierney is a specialised left-back and certainly has a different style to that of those in the squad and therefore could offer Arsenal something they haven’t had in some time.
Looking into the next few months of action, there are some chances where Tierney could be seen. The third round League Cup match with Bolton on September 25 will probably come too soon but should the Gunners progress the fourth round takes place the week commencing October 28 and therefore it could be here, depending on the opponent, where we see the Scot back.
Otherwise, the Champions League matches might offer Arsenal a chance. The new format has added two additional games and four matches against sides from pot 3 and 4.
October 22 is a home match with Shakhtar Donetsk, December 11 is a home tie with Monaco and January 22 sees the hosting of Dinamo Zagreb. All very winnable matches and Tierney was indeed registered for the squad for these games so there must be some foresight to his inclusion.
The FA Cup third round takes place on the weekend of January 11/12 next year and this also could give a chance for Tierney to play. The issue is that the winter window is open and it may be here that the Scot again seeks an exit should indeed an opportunity arise.p
