Kieran Tierney is in line to make his long-awaited
Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney is set to make his first appearance for the club in 493 days as Mikel Arteta bids to solve their defensive injury crisis.
Tierney, 27, hasn’t featured in an Arsenal shirt since August 2023 but is expected to start on Wednesday when the Gunners host Monaco for a crucial Champions League fixture. The Scotland international spent last season out on loan with La Liga side Real Sociedad before suffering a hamstring injury at Euro 2024 which ruled him out until last month
But now Tierney is ready to return, as Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Magalhaes all didn’t train with the squad on Tuesday. Arteta admits that ‘some of them probably aren’t going to be fit’ which has opened the door for the 27-year-old to make a ‘deserved’ return.
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“He is ready, he’s training really well and he’s going to have an opportunity for sure,” Arteta said of Tierney. “The way the team is looking at the moment, he is going to do that for that reason and because he’s earned it. The way he’s behaved, the way he’s been with us because he’s willing to do it and when.”
Tierney is set to line up in defence alongside Timber, William Saliba and Jakub Kiwior, all of whom started Sunday’s frustrating 1-1 draw away to Fulham. In midfield, captain Martin Odegaard will likely be joined by Jorginho and Mikel Merino, with Declan Rice potentially being given a rest.
Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to be the front three, just as they were against Sporting Lisbon last month when Arsenal romped to a 5-1 win. That was their third victory in the Champions League, having also beaten Paris Saint-Germain and Shakhtar Donetsk.
How should Arsenal line up against Monaco? Give us your XI in the comments section.
Arsenal expected XI vs Monaco
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Kiwior, Tierney; Odegaard, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Another victory over Monaco, who beat Barcelona on matchday one, would move the injury-hit Gunners level on points with Brest, Inter Milan, Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen, all of whom are five points behind Champions League leaders Liverpool with two games remaining. “It is what it is,” Arteta said of Arsenal’s injury situation.