Arsenal’s return to Premier League football this week could not have gone any worse, with the Gunners getting thrashed 3-0 by Crystal Palace and the news emerging that Kieran Tierney was out through injury.
As reported by the Sun, there are fears at Arsenal that the Scottish international’s season could be over, with Mikel Arteta revealing via BBC Sport that the defender’s knee injury does not look promising.
With Nuno Tavares starting, struggling, and then being hooked off at half-time against Palace, Arsenal fans are beginning to sweat that Tierney’s absence for the remainder of the season could spell doom for the Gunners’ top-four chances.
Indeed, things are looking grim for the Gunners, but here are three ways Arsenal and Arteta can cope with Tierney’s absence if the defender is out for the rest of the season through injury.
Arteta puts full faith into Tavares
Tavares has made just two starts in 2022 for Arsenal, with both seeing the left-back substituted off early as the Portuguese defender was infamously taken off just past the 30-minute mark in the Gunners’ 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.
Whilst the signs aren’t looking great for Tavares, it’s easy to forget just how good the youngster was at the start of the season when Tierney was again out through injury, with the former Benfica star even keeping his position when the Scotsman returned.
With Brighton and Southampton next up for Arsenal, these two tame fixtures should be enough for Tavares to regain his confidence whilst also giving the Gunners the chance to build up any momentum lost during the damming loss to Palace this Monday.
Xhaka returns to the left-back position
With Tavares hooked off at the break against Palace, Granit Xhaka was the man who dropped into the left-back position as Thomas Partey, another player who could also be out injured, operated as the lone central midfielder.
No stranger to the left-back role, Xhaka has surprisingly done well whenever given the responsibility of playing in the defence. Yet with the £35m midfielder enjoying some of his best football ever as an Arsenal player this year, a move into the backline to cover for Tierney’s injury could be a hindrance.
Indeed, Xhaka and Partey’s relationship in the midfield has been key to Arsenal’s incredible form this year. And whilst the Swiss international could return to left-back, it is an option that Arteta should only do if absolutely necessary.
Arsenal system change sees Saka return to breakout position
It feels like a lifetime ago, but there was once a time when Bukayo Saka was arguably Arsenal’s best left-back when Arteta entrusted the then-teenager to take over from Tierney, who was once again injured at the time.
Now a full England international and one of Arsenal’s most important attackers, a return to left-back could be considered crazy by most fans, yet if Arteta was to change the shape to something resembling a 3-4-3, Saka and the Gunners could thrive.
Just like with Xhaka switching to left-back, it would be a big call for Arsenal to change system in the most important part of the season just to facilitate one injury. But given Tierney’s importance and Saka’s quality, it could be a decision that works in the Gunners’ favour.
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