Kieran Tierney has been included in Arsenal’s squad for tomorrow night’s Europa League last-32 clash with Benfica in Rome.
The Scotland international has been restricted to three appearances since the turn of the year but appears to be on the mend after being hampered by lower leg and knee issues.
It remains to be seen whether he’s fit enough to start at left-back, a position covered in recent weeks by Cedric, but it’s positive all the same.
Unfortunately, and not unexpectedly, Thomas Partey will not take part in the ‘away’ first-leg. The Ghana international picked up a hamstring strain in the defeat to Aston Villa a couple of weeks ago and isn’t likely to start training with his teammates until next week at the earliest.
“Thomas didn’t travel, he’s not there yet. He’s still training individually,” confirmed Arteta on Wednesday evening.
“Kieran has had one session with us and is part of the squad.”
Mikel Arteta also confirmed that captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in the Italian capital despite suggestions he may have broken Covid-19 protocols to have a new tattoo.
Asked whether the striker has broken any rules and if action will be taken, the boss replied: “No, whatever we do with our players, we keep it internal.”
He added: “If any player does anything that is not in the regulation then the club acts immediately but always privately as well.”
Welcome back Tierney. We’ve missed your marauding runs on the left. Please be fit for city
Please be fit for the rest of your career! 🙂
I have a sneaky feeling we’ll stun City.
not expecting tierney to start tomorrow but it’s good to have him back. with saka transforming the right side, addition of tierney is going to make us seriously dangerous on flanks. Not to forget partey esr martin through the middle.
Why would you take Tierney if you’re not going to start him. Would seem weird to make him travel as back up for Cedric?
Probably come on as a sub get 30 minutes and hopefully be match ready for City?
👍
Not a bad idea, Cedric is putting a lot of time in, and the fixtures are thick and fast over the next few weeks with some big matches. At some point Hector is going to need a rest, and ideally we don’t need to use up any of Saka’s reserves in the back line. Just the thought of that sounds ridiculous now.
Europa League is our only chance to salvage something positive from this season. Having KT on the bench to come on in case of emergency is not a bad idea.
It should also disrupt Benfica’s planning – they won’t know whether to prepare for an overlapping fullback with (for e.g.) Auba driving inside, or Pepe holding the width with Cedric underlapping as we’ve seen recently. It’s a small factor, but games are won on lots of small factors!
Some folk just want to be part of the gang too. Maybe he’ll not get off the bench but he’ll enjoy being part of the group again
Hope Tierney is only the bench, and brought on with the score 0-3 or something to Arsenal just to get some minutes into his legs. The team is much better with him in it, but Cedric is fairly reliable, so better to have him fit till the end of the season than to risk him with a “home” leg to play to.
Can’t stop sniggering at the “home” and “away” labels.
Pleased to see matters being handled internally with regards to Auba.