Former Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney has been left out of the Arsenal squad for their Premier League opener.
The Gunners take on Nottingham Forest at home in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off as they get their new campaign underway.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has named his 20-man squad for the clash and Tierney is nowhere to be seen. (Arsenal)
His left-back rival from last season Oleksandr Zinchenko is injured at present so many may have expected Tierney to feature, but Arteta appears to have gone with summer signing Jurrien Timber instead.
What makes Tierney’s omission from the squad the more surprising is that he is said to be fully fit.
Football London’s chief Arsenal writer Kaya Kaynak tweeted to say: “Kieran Tierney has just not been selected from the squad today. No injury.” (@kayakaynak97 on Twitter)
Tierney featured in five or Arsenal’s six pre-season clashes, and came on as a substitute in last weekend’s Community Shield at Wembley.
Today’s game is the first time he has missed out on a match day squad since March. It will be a frustrating blow for the full-back.
Celtic haven’t actually been credited with a real interest in the Scotland international this summer, but it has been reported that Tierney would consider a loan move back to his boyhood club.
The rumours have never been too far away this summer, even from Brendan Rodgers who was asked about his former player on Wednesday.
While a move to Celtic still looks unlikely as far as we’re concerned, it does seem like Tierney is heading for the exit door at Arsenal.
He’s too good not to be playing.
In other news, Celtic’s work on the redevelopment of the Barrowfield training complex will continue throughout 2023
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