‘Genuinely’: £110k-a-week Arsenal ace shocked by what Arteta did to him

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Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney has told Sky Sports that he was shocked when Gunners manager Mikel Arteta decided to leave him out of the starting lineup against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool last weekend.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal got the better of Liverpool 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium in North London last weekend.

Tierney was available for the Premier League match, but the £110,000-a-week (Spotrac) Scotland international left-back started on the bench.

Arteta decided to start Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back despite the Japan international being a right-back by trade.

And former Celtic star Tierney has admitted that he was shocked by Arteta’s decision.

Kieran Tierney on Mikel Arteta decision in Arsenal v Liverpool

Tierney said: “I’ve genuinely never had that. That was the first meeting I’ve had like in my life where I’ve been dropped, so it is new to me still.

“Like this season has been new to me. There was a spell last season, three or four games I wasn’t playing, but since I started the season, I’ve not really played, so it is new to me.

“I’m learning, I’m dealing with it, but it is tough, football is what I want to play. I worked so hard to get back from injury so you want to play as much as you can as soon as you’re back.

“Unfortunately, I’ve not played too many but every time I get a chance to play, I’m so grateful. I work as hard as I possibly can for the team.”

Staying positive

In our view, Kieran Tierney should stay strong and positive about his place in the Arsenal team.

The former Celtic star is struggling for playing time this season, and Tomiyasu playing ahead of him at left-back against Liverpool must have been really hard to take.

Oleksandr Zinchenko is playing at left-back for Arsenal when he is fit and available, with the Ukraine international also able to operate in midfield.

However, Tierney should be confident of winning his place back in the team.

He is a very good left-back who has pace, energy and is good at putting crosses in.

Tierney has made three starts and five substitute appearances in the Premier League and has played three times in the UEFA Europa League for Arsenal so far this campaign.