Kieran Tierney explains why £35m star is way better at starting for Arsenal than him

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Kieran Tierney has detailed why Oleksandr Zinchenko is more suited to starting for Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.

The Ukrainian international joined the Gunners from Manchester City in a £35m deal, with Zinchenko transforming Arsenal into top-four contenders into Premier League title disrupters.

The midfielder-turned-fullback has been a perfect match for the north London side under Arteta since arriving, yet Zinchenko’s impact has resulted in Tierney losing out on his spot in the Arsenal squad.

Kieran Tierney explains why Oleksandr Zinchenko is better than him for Arsenal

Now on loan at Real Sociedad, Tierney sat down with the Daily Mail to discuss life in San Sebastian, with the defender also detailing why Zinchenko is more suited for Arsenal in their current state.

Tierney said: “At Arsenal. the left-back can be one of the most central players in the team. If it’s Zinchenko then he is one of the biggest creators from a central position.

“When that got introduced it was alien to me. I have never played centre midfield. I started as a winger. I was trying to learn that when I was at Arsenal.

“When you see how well it works it is hard to question it. My choice was to just get on with it and learn and I got to practice it with one of the best. It’s so natural to Zinchenko, he makes it look so easy.”

Arsenal made the right decision overhauling the left-back position

As brutal as it was given the love Tierney has received from fans over the years, it’s hard to argue that replacing the Scottish international was a bad thing for Arsenal.

Since the signing of Zinchenko, the Gunners have returned to their best and have looked like genuine contenders for the Premier League, with this season no different.

And whilst most fans would love to see Tierney return to Arsenal, it appears that the ship has already passed for the former Celtic star to return to the fold.

Indeed, as Tierney himself says, Arteta wants a different player entirely playing in the left-back position, yet the defender has found a home in Sociedad who could sign the Scotsman for good this summer.