Kieran Tierney’s Arsenal career appears to be nearing its conclusion after the club opted not to trigger the option to extend his contract, which is set to expire next summer.
The Scotland international joined Arsenal from Celtic five years ago and quickly became a fan favorite under then-manager Unai Emery.
However, injuries have heavily disrupted his time at the Emirates, eventually leading to him being deemed surplus to requirements.
Last season, he was loaned out to Real Sociedad in search of regular playing time.
At his peak, the 27-year-old was considered a potential Arsenal captain, but his standing in the squad has diminished over time.
This season, Tierney has fallen so far down the pecking order that Arteta has turned to teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly as a makeshift left-back in recent weeks.
While Tierney returned to the starting lineup in Arsenal’s 3-2 Carabao Cup quarterfinal victory over Crystal Palace, his performance was cut short after 69 minutes due to cramp.
Arteta acknowledged Tierney’s effort, saying, “He’s playing to his strengths, that’s something we need to continue to learn. There’s a much better fit for him, and it’s important to play to his qualities.”
Despite his encouraging display, the deadline for extending Tierney’s contract has now passed, paving the way for a likely departure.
According to reports, a return to Celtic is on the cards, though it remains unclear if he will leave in the January transfer window or see out his contract until the end of the season.
Arsenal’s decision comes at a time when the squad is struggling with injuries in defense. Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Ben White are all sidelined, while Jurrien Timber is recovering from a long-term knee injury.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus stole the show in the Carabao Cup win, scoring a second-half hat trick to secure Arsenal’s place in the semifinals.
Arteta praised his striker, saying, “Gabby brings something special. This performance will give him confidence and, hopefully, consistency to help us in key moments.”
With Tierney’s future uncertain, Arsenal will need to carefully manage their defensive options as the January transfer window approaches.