Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes there may be ‘a problem brewing’ after Kieran Tierney was left out by Mikel Arteta again for the 3-2 Premier League defeat to Manchester United, speaking to talkSPORT (3 December, 11am).
It was a common theme last season; an underperforming Arsenal side elevated by the performances of just three players – Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and their tenacious, swashbuckling Scotland international left-back.
But while Tierney has plenty of credit in the bank as far as the Emirates Stadium faithful are concerned, the former Celtic flyer has gone from an undisputed starter to £25 million benchwarmer in recent weeks.
Tierney was left out for the fourth Premier League game in a row at Old Trafford as Arsenal went down to a Cristiano Ronaldo double.
Nuno Tavares appears to be Arteta’s first-choice for the time being, the 21-year-old keeping his place despite a dreadful afternoon in the recent 4-0 hammering by Liverpool.
Is Kieran Tierney facing an uncertain future at Arsenal?
“I don’t know,” Keown said when asked why Tierney appears to have fallen out of favour. “I think that’s a mystery.
“Tavares has done exceptionally well. Maybe the manager doesn’t believe in Tierney as much as we might believe in him.
“(Tavares) made a few mistakes at Anfield and the manager said; ‘I’m not gonna drop him’. I think there’s a problem brewing with Tierney.
“He’s a real quality player, he’s a leader, the type of defender the Arsenal fans have wanted for years and now he’s not in the team.
“He’s not been near to coming on in any of the games (recently). He’s got to keep his head down keep working and not become a problem for the manager
“He doesn’t strike me as the sort of lad who’s going to stick around if he doesn’t get a game of football.”
It must be said, however, that the mature, level-headed Tierney is pretty much the epitome of the model professional.
The Scot with not be particularly pleased with his new-found backseat role but do not expect the 24-year-old to throw his toys out the pram.
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