Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed the return of Scottish international defender, Kieran Tierney, to the Gunners' squad for their upcoming Champions League match against Sporting Lisbon. This marks Tierney's first potential appearance in over a year, having last played for Arsenal in August 2023.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal manager, said:
“Everybody in the squad is fully fit and available to start the game," Arteta told reporters. “We have Kieran Tierney after a long injury, it’s great news that he’s back, he’s been training with the team and he’s at the level to participate.”
"I am going to expect the same [Sporting] because every coach and the coaching staff behind him would have their own ideas," Arteta added. "We obviously analysed what was done and the things that can tweak, and what’s been done in the to be prepared and try to understand as much as possible what we can try to do and especially how we can hurt them. I’m looking forward to that."
Tierney spent the previous season on loan at Real Sociedad after it was made clear he didn't feature in Arteta's plans. However, an injury during his international duty at Euro 2024 thwarted any chances of a permanent summer exit. Despite knowing they would be without the former Celtic man for the initial months of this season, Arsenal included Tierney in their 25-man Premier League squad and official team photo. He was also named as part of Europe's squad but is yet to make an appearance in either competition.
Road ahead
The upcoming trip to Lisbon presents one of Arsenal's toughest remaining fixtures in the Champions League league phase. Sporting Lisbon currently leads Primeira Liga and remains unbeaten so far. While Arteta confirmed that Tierney has travelled with the team to Portugal, speculation about his January exit continues.
Tierney’s last appearance for Arsenal was brief - just 14 minutes during Community Shield back in August 2023. Despite making 24 La Liga appearances last season (14 starts), he only featured twice in Champions League fixtures due to injuries.
At age 27 and under contract until summer 2026, Tierney admitted earlier this year that he might need a permanent move away from Arsenal to revive his career given his current position far down on the pecking order.
Current standings
Arsenal have had mixed results so far with seven points from their first four European matches but have failed to score away from home. They drew goalless with Atalanta initially and were later defeated 1-0 by Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Sporting Lisbon, on the other hand, boasts of 10 points and a recent 4-1 victory over Manchester City in their last European tie. Despite a change in management with Joao Pereira taking over from Ruben Amorim, Arteta expects a challenging match against the reigning Portuguese champions.
Tierney's return to Arsenal's squad could be an interesting turn of events for both him and the team. Whether this marks a revival of his career with Arsenal or is just a brief interlude before his exit remains to be seen.
