Kevin Campbell has backed Kieran Tierney to stay at Arsenal this summer despite transfer interest from Newcastle United.
The former Arsenal striker thinks Kieran Tierney, who played a back-up role to Oleksandr Zinchenko last season, will play ‘more games’ next season because of the arrival of Jurrien Timber, as he told the Highbury Squad.
Given that Timber can come into the midfield, Campbell thinks, if the Dutch star plays at right-back and plays that role of coming inside, then it would allow Tierney to play his typical game on the left flank.
Last season, that wasn’t possible because Zinchenko was the only guy capable of doing that from fullback, but now Arsenal have Timber in the building.
Although, that hasn’t stopped suggestions that Tierney might be out of the door this summer, with even Brendan Rodgers Celtic keen on bringing their star man back to Parkhead.
But Campbell wants the Scotland international to stay put and he thinks the £25 million (Sky Sports) will do just that.
“Tierney is going to get his games this season,” said Campbell. “I think we can do Tierney up and down with Martinelli, then we invert Timber on the opposite flank, so I think that’s a really good move for us, so you never know.
“Tierney might get more games, or else, I am sure we would have sold him by now. There has been big interest. Newcastle wanted him big time.”
Arsenal should keep Tierney
It doesn’t make sense, from Arsenal’s perspective, to get rid of the all-action left-back ahead of their return to the Champions League.
Yes, the player himself might want to go, especially if he feels he won’t get the regular starts, which would then disrupt his progression.
But one thing that hurt Arteta’s side last season was their lack of squad depth, well, with Tierney already in the building, they already have that.
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