‘No chance’: Arsenal sent Kieran Tierney message ahead of Leeds United clash

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Kevin Campbell says there is ‘no chance’ Mikel Arteta tries Kieran Tierney as a centre-back for Arsenal against Leeds United if William Saliba doesn’t recover from his injury.

It was put to the former striker that Kieran Tierney, who is a natural left-back, could possibly play at the heart of Arsenal’s defence alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, when players return from the international break.

For the Premier League leaders, they lock horns against relegation-threatened Leeds at the Emirates and fans will be questioning if William Saliba will start.

The France international missed his side’s win over Crystal Palace before the international break, with suggestions that he could be out of action for ‘several weeks’.

Those in north London will be hoping their star defender is back, sooner rather than later, because they are in the crunch moments of the season.

If he isn’t, then just like against Crystal Palace, it will be Rob Holding filling in, but when Tierney’s name was mentioned, this is what Kevin Campbell had to say, as he told the Highbury Squad.

“No,” said Campbell as he brushed off the suggestion of Tierney playing at centre-back like Lisandro Martinez does for Manchester United. “No chance, no chance, no.

“We know Kieran Tierney could play left-sided (centre-back in a back three). He probably could (play at right-back if need be).

“But, that natural progression down the right-hand side, you are going to miss that. Defensively, we are there. We know Tierney can play left of a three, but because he is a natural left-back, I don’t see us changing that anytime soon. I don’t because the balance of the team then gets affected.”

WILL TIERNEY LEAVE ARSENAL?

This time last season, the Scotland international was in the treatment room and fans were worried that he wouldn’t be available in their push to finish fourth.

From Nuno Tavares to Granit Xhaka, that left-back spot became a problem area without Tierney, yet fast forward to the present, and the £25 million signing (Sky Sports) can’t even get into the XI – Could the Newcastle United transfer target leave in the summer?

That’s because a certain summer signing, Oleksandr Zinchenko, is cooking in that department, with Emile Smith Rowe recently speaking in awe of the former Manchester City man.