In a surprising move, Arsenal has left Kieran Tierney out of their pre-season squad for their match against Bayer Leverkusen, signaling the defender’s likely departure from the Emirates.
The Gunners secured a convincing 4-1 victory over the Bundesliga champions, but the absence of the Scottish international was hard to miss.
Despite a recent hamstring injury at Euro 2024, Tierney’s exclusion from the squad list raised eyebrows, as it’s uncommon for injured players to be entirely omitted from pre-match programs.
This omission has intensified speculation about Tierney’s future. Arsenal fans, quick to notice the defender’s absence, voiced their concerns on social media.
“Kieran Tierney isn’t even included on the matchday programme. He’s 100 percent leaving,” one fan tweeted. The comparison to Nicolas Pepe’s similar exclusion before his move to Trabzonspor last season only fueled the rumors.
Tierney, a fan favorite, spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad, seeking to regain form after falling out of favor with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
In a candid interview with talkSPORT in April, Tierney admitted uncertainty about his future in North London. “It’s hard to put a finger on it,” he said, reflecting on his reduced game time and subsequent loan move.
The left-back’s position has been under threat since Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival in the 2022/23 season. With new signings Riccardo Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, and Jakub Kiwior adding to the competition, Tierney’s path back to the starting XI appears increasingly blocked.
As Arsenal continues to evolve under Arteta, it seems Tierney’s time at the club is drawing to a close. His omission from the pre-season squad list might just be the final hint that his Emirates career is nearing its end.
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