Arsenal face a nervous wait over the severity of Kieran Tierney’s knee injury after the left-back limped off in the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool.
The Scotland international was involved in a heavy challenge with James Milner during Saturday’s clash at the Emirates, and had to be withdrawn after failing to run off some discomfort to his knee.
Tierney has been one of Arsenal‘s stand out performers this season, despite their mediocre position in the Premier League table and was in fine form having delivered three assists for Scotland in their 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over the Faroe Islands last week.
Any prolonged absence would come as a huge blow for Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, given the Gunners’ Europa League quarter-final tie against Slavia Prague on Thursday, a game which the defender is already a huge doubt for.
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At his post-match press conference after the Liverpool clash, Arteta admitted he was unsure about Tierney’s involvement against the Czech side.
“He felt something in his knee and he was in pain,” the Arsenal head coach told reporters. “He will be injured but we don’t know for how long.”
The former Celtic defender has already been lavished with praise this season, on one occasion by former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer, who was speaking after watching the Magpies lose to Arsenal in the FA Cup.
“What about the work of Kieran Tierney? The best player on the park,” Shearer told BBC Sport after the game.
“The give, the go, it’s great to sit and watch him and the balls that he put in and the quality that he has with that left-foot in there.
“And for him to pick him [Aubameyang] out the way that he did and get in that position as I said he was the best player on the park.”
Tierney’s impressive performances of late have left Arsenal fans with a lot to shout about, with many predicting that he could soon challenge fellow countryman and Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson for the ‘best left-back in the Premier League’ tag.
But as well as Arsenal’s fans being delighted with Tierney’s current form, it has also proven that Jose Mourinho – the Tottenham Hotspur head coach – was right in his prediction about the Scot.
Following his arrival in north London in 2019, Mourinho tipped the attack-minded full-back to to be a roaring success, something, which despite his injury troubles, he certainly has the capability of being for years to come.
The summer transfer window is just around the corner.
And the rumour mill is already starting to pick up speed.
Arsenal will not have a huge amount of money to spend, but Mikel Arteta will be hoping to make a number of moves, with loanee Martin Odegaard high up the list of priorities to bring in on a permanent deal.
But who would you sign? Get involved in our transfer window debate here.
Mourinho told Sky Sports : “Tierney is like a young Nacho Monreal. He is the same kind of profile. He’s reliable, looks a good character, looks a great personality.
“He looks a little like someone from a previous generation in some aspects.
“He has a humble way of behaving and I like his profile.”