Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney is poised to make his first appearance for the club in 493 days as Mikel Arteta looks to address their defensive injury crisis.
Tierney, 27, has not played for Arsenal since August 2023 but is expected to start on Wednesday in a crucial Champions League match against Monaco. The Scotland international spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad in La Liga before a hamstring injury during Euro 2024 kept him sidelined until last month.
Now fully fit, Tierney is ready to return, especially with Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Gabriel Magalhaes absent from Tuesday’s training session. Arteta acknowledges that “some of them probably aren’t going to be fit,” which has created an opportunity for the 27-year-old to make a well-deserved comeback.
“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 feature in defence alongside Timber, William Saliba, and Jakub Kiwior, all of whom started Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham. In midfield, captain Martin Odegaard will likely be partnered with Jorginho and Mikel Merino, with Declan Rice possibly being rested.
Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli are expected to form the front three, similar to their lineup against Sporting Lisbon last month, when Arsenal cruised to a 5-1 victory. That win marked their third Champions League victory, following triumphs over Paris Saint-Germain and Shakhtar Donetsk.
A win against Monaco, who defeated Barcelona in their opening match, would level the injury-plagued Gunners on points with Brest, Inter Milan, Aston Villa, and Bayer Leverkusen, all five points behind Champions League leaders Liverpool with two games left.
“It is what it is,” Arteta said of Arsenal’s injury situation.
“It the end if we have to accept the challenge, it’s opportunities for other players to do that. In the ideal scenario, we have to be in charge to make those decisions. It’s forcing us to make it for the wrong reasons, but as well, we need to accept the reality and move forwards.”
