Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney has opened up on his fight for minutes against Oleksandr Zinchenko. Mikel Arteta signed the Ukraine star last July to better his options at left-back.
The Gunners raided Manchester City for Zinchenko in a £32m deal after three seasons with Tierney as their first choice. Unai Emery had signed the Scotland defender from Celtic back in 2019 for £25m. But the 25-year-old has regularly suffered with injuries in north London.
Through the 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, Tierney only appeared in 64 Premier League games from a potential 114. He further enjoyed his most outings in a single season during the 2020/21 campaign with 27. Arteta only used the 35-cap ace 22 times last term.
Zinchenko’s arrival at Emirates Stadium has seen Tierney fall into a backup role in Arteta’s Arsenal squad. The Spaniard has started his signing in 10 of a potential 18 Premier League games so far. While Tierney has only started in four of his 15 appearances during 2022/23.
Arteta even utilised right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu at left-back whilst Zinchenko recovered from an injury in October. The 52-cap Ukraine star missed four games after aggravating an earlier calf issue. He also had to sit out two league games in September with a knee injury.
Zinchenko has even impressed Tierney since joining Arsenal last summer
All in, Zinchenko has featured in 11 of Arsenal’s 18 Premier League games since overtaking Tierney as Arteta’s favoured left-back. The 26-year-old proved to be a welcome addition in north London last summer having helped Arteta to reinvent how they want to use the role.
Zinchenko has even impressed Tierney with what the £150k-a-week technician has offered in an inverted position. But whilst he is disappointed to now be Arteta’s second choice, the £110k-a-week Scot wants to harness the power of his frustrations to show what he offers.
“What a player he is,” Tierney has told The Scottish Sun. “He’s such a great guy, as well. It’s good competition for me. I’ll just keep trying every day to do the best I can, work hard and, when called upon, give everything.
“I’ve not started many games but there’s also only a few games where I’ve not come on. It’s a long season and it’s not just 11 players needed, it’s the full squad. There are different ways you can vent your disappointment.
“One way is to not try and openly show you don’t care but there’s another way. You work hard and give your all for the team. You try to push as much as you can and, when called upon, you give everything. And that’s the way I choose.”
Tierney has played as a substitute in 11 of the 14 Premier League games where Arteta did not start him. The Scot has only watched on from the bench against Manchester United in September, Wolves in November and Newcastle United in January having always been fit.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
