BREAKING: Manchester United Legend Sir Alex Ferguson reveals there is an Arsenal player he really loves and would want to see him at Man United- He called the player “phenomenal” and “one of the best players in the world”- but sadly Mikel Arteta doesn’t have the player in his plans- Player will discuss his future over a move to ‘rival club’
Mikel Arteta makes U-turn on Arsenal star who Sir Alex Ferguson branded ‘phenomenal’
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for Kieran Tierney but it appears as though Mikel Arteta is moving on from the full-back at Arsenal
Kieran Tierney has admitted his future at Arsenal is out of his hands as Mikel Arteta continues to rebuild his squad ahead of another tilt at the Premier League title.
Arteta has already moved on Granit Xhaka, Ainsley-Maitland Niles and Pablo Mari this summer with other players looking set to follow. Nicolas Pepe – who was signed by former Gunners manager Unai Emery for a then club-record fee – has no future at the Emirates while Falorin Balogun appears set to leave too.
Tierney signed for Arsenal from Celtic for £25million not long after Pepe’s £73m arrival from Lille in 2019. The Scotland full-back quickly became a vital member of the first team squad and signed a new long-term contract in 2021.
He was a regular in the 2021/22 season but a knee injury in March ended the 26-year-old’s campaign early. Arsenal signed Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City that summer and the Ukraine international has made the left-back position his own.
Asked about his future after the pre-season friendly defeat to Manchester United at the weekend, Tierney admitted ( via the Mirror ): “It’s not really up to me. I’m happy, I’m working hard every day and getting minutes. I’m just trying to do as well as I can.”
Zinchenko, also 26, started 26 Premier League matches last season compared to Tierney’s six. Tierney added that he is yet to discuss his future directly with Arteta, but Zinchenko’s place in the squad means it will be incredibly difficult for the former Celtic defender to become a regular starter in the Premier League again, while Jakub Kiwior is also an option for Arteta at left-back.
Tierney’s position in the Gunners’ pecking order is undoubtedly different to two years ago, when legendary former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson lauded the Scot’s performances for his club.
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“I do think Scotland have some very good midfield players, and I’m not sure how they’re gonna play (Andy) Robertson and Tierney in the same team,” said Ferguson. “I know there were some situations where they played Tierney as the third centre-back, but the form of Tierney since he’s gone to Arsenal has been phenomenal.”
Arteta even hinted that Tierney might be captain material for Arsenal, praising his attributes as a ‘natural leader’. “Since the moment I joined the club I have seen a player with enormous talent with the perfect attitude and commitment,” Arteta said of Tierney back then.
“He is a joy to work with and I am so happy for him for the way he scored [against West Brom] and everything he has put in to be better every day towards the team, towards the club.
“He has had some issues to adapt. We tried to help him. It was a challenge for him to leave his house as we all tried to help him. He is shy and so humble. He came here and it took him a while. He had a really bad injury and was away from home but he is a natural leader.
“You see how he behaves on the pitch and when he talks he says the right thing. And he is exactly what we are looking for and I am so happy to have him in the team.”
There is no doubting Tierney’s talents but he is competing for places in an Arsenal squad that has more quality than when he arrived. Having admitted his future is out of his hands, it is now effectively down to Arteta to decide what is best for the player.
