Arsenal manager Unai Emery has said that new signing Kieran Tierney is close to making a full return to fitness after a 1-0 win against Bournemouth at the Emirates.
What’s the word?
David Luiz got the only goal of the game, which was enough to seal the three points for the hosts and saw them move up to third in the Premier League table.
However, the Spanish manager will be looking forward to getting his key players back in action as the Christmas period rapidly approaches.
Along with Tierney, Rob Holding is also close to a return to the side after a spell out with injury.
Quoted by the Mirror he said, “Kieran and Rob (Holding) are closer to playing.
“Kieran Tierney is closer to us, he played on Thursday and today he was on the bench if we needed him. Hector Bellerin needs a little more time, more matches and more training.”
“This international break is going to be important to him. I think he will be closer to starting for us in the next matches in the Premier League.”
Needs to play
The Scotsman has already illustrated this season in the Carabao Cup and the Europa League how effective he can be offensively while having the tenacious edge to track back and defend aggressively.
Tierney has embarked on a long journey to get to where he is today, starting as a childhood fan for the Scottish champions and evolving into an iconic star at Celtic Park before his departure. His performance figures highlight this in greater detail.
Having averaged 1.7 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game in the Europa League last season for Celtic, he proved to Unai Emery that he is more than capable of becoming an established figure in the starting line-up and on the biggest stages in football.
His high defensive statistics in Europe’s 2nd tier competition displayed the Scotsman’s work rate within the Celtic team.
Having made 1.7 tackles, 2.2 interceptions and 2.5 clearances in six European ties last season, he can be an integral part to Emery’s team and help with the pressure that is heaped on the shoulders of Sead Kolasinac.
The 22-year-old has buckets of potential and can help Arsenal back into the Champions League. With plenty of European experience and an excellent mentality, forged by his years at Celtic, Tierney can bloom into a world-class left-back if he manages to avoid any reoccurring injuries to his hip.