Former Celtic left back Kieran Tierney has been ruled out with a hamstring injury since the summer – however, he is set to return ‘in the next week or two’, according to Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta.
Tierney picked up the injury at Euro 2024, during Scotland’s 1-1 draw against Switzerland. In that game, he pulled up early in the second half and was stretchered off the pitch to be replaced by Scott McKenna. As things stand, Tierney has not played in a competitive fixture since.
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Arsenal’s game against Preston North End in the League Cup, Arteta said: “I think he’s quite close, he looks good, really sharp. He hasn’t trained with the team yet, hopefully he can do that in the next week or two.”
The 27 year old has become something of a forgotten man at the Emirates Stadium – he is well behind in the pecking order against the likes of Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber and even Jakub Kiwior. There have been rumours that he could return to Celtic at some point in the near future, though no concrete talks have been made public as of yet.
Tierney joined Arsenal from Celtic in 2019, following a four year period in the Hoops’ senior team. Prior to this, he had been in Celtic’s academy since 2005, graduating to the first team in 2015. All in all, Tierney made 102 Scottish Premiership appearances for Celtic, scoring five goals along the way. He won four league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups during his glittering period at Parkhead.
In contrast, Tierney has had a rough time at Arsenal, especially so over the last couple of years. Last season, he was shipped out on loan to Real Sociedad – despite impressing audiences in La Liga, his campaign was hampered by injuries.
