His time at the club is over, it’s been confirmed… ❌

Mikel Arteta immediately decides to sell Arsenal player after Crystal Palace win.

News of the Arsenal star’s departure emerges after the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace.

 

Mikel Arteta has made a decision on the future of an Arsenal player after the Carabao Cup quarter final win over Crystal Palace.

The Gunners came from behind to win 3-2 with Gabriel Jesus ending his Emirates goal-drought with an impressive hat-trick to send Arteta’s men into the semi-finals.

Arteta rang the changes, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Kai Havertz on the bench for the clash.

And there was a surprise start for left-back Kieran Tierney, who made a first appearance for the club in 19 months.

 

Before Wednesday, his last start for Arsenal was in a 3-0 defeat to Brighton in May 2023. He picked up a hamstring injury for Scotland at Euro 2024 but made a recovery and returned to full training before getting the nod after seven appearances on the bench.

 

Tierney lasted 69 minutes but was forced off with another injury problem. And immediately after the final whistle, David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that Tierney is to leave the club.

 

With his poor injury record, Arsenal have decided against activating a 12-month extension option in his contract. There was a specific date by which the extension could be triggered but that has now passed and Tierney’s deal will expire at the end of the season.

 

He will have the option to discuss a pre-contract with overseas clubs in January but a permanent deal is also possible when the window reopens.

 

His former club Celtic would appear to be the favourites to re-sign the 27-year-old, with the Scottish Sun reporting they are considering a deal to bring him back next month.

 

Tierney, who spent last season in La Liga with Real Sociedad, also holds interest from clubs in England.

 

Arteta had been extremely complimentary about Tierney in a recent press conference, saying: “He is ready, he’s training really well and he’s going to have an opportunity for sure.

 

“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 that happens, you have to give those opportunities to players.”

 

Tierney signed from Celtic for a fee of £25 million in 2019 and has gone on to make 125 appearances for Arsenal.