Arsenal have included a forgotten defender in their UEFA Champions League squad ahead of the tournament starting later this month.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were busy in the summer transfer market as the Gunners hope to win their first Premier League title since the 2003/04 invincible side under Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal signed Mikel Merino, but the Spaniard will potentially miss the next two months as he is dealing with an injury problem. As well as this, Arsenal also signed Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling on a year loan deal.
The third addition that Arsenal made was Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori, who can operate at centre-back and indeed left-back but the Gunners have included a forgotten defensive player in their Champions League squad.
Kieran Tierney included in Arsenal’s Champions League squad
Scottish left-back Kieran Tierney has been included in the Gunners’ 23-man list for Europe’s top-tier tournament this season, despite not playing for them since August 2023 in the Community Shield.
The Scotsman has had horrendous luck with injury but spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad where he made 27 appearances for the Spanish side.
Tierney was stretchered off for Scotland during their draw against Switzerland at Euro 2024 and was then not used by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
Three matches into the new campaign and Tierney hasn’t featured in a single matchday squad for Arsenal but instead has been included in Europe.
It is certainly a surprise that the Gunners have included Tierney in the squad for the Champions League and particularly with the signing of Calafiori, it is hard to see where he plays.
Arsenal need squad depth for European run
Last season in the UEFA Champions League, Arsenal fell to a defeat against Bayern Munich in the European competition and Mikel Arteta’s side will be hoping for an improvement.
Injury issues already look to be rearing their head for the Gunners with Merino set to miss potentially two months of the campaign due to an injury.
Tierney could well play a key role for the Gunners if these injury issues persist and the Scotsman will be hoping to impress.
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