Mikel Arteta has a selection nightmare to tend to ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League meeting with AS Monaco.
After Arsenal thrashed Sporting CP 5-1 on matchday five of the Champions League, the Gunners return to action in the tournament against Monaco.
The French outfit will arrive at the Emirates competitively for the first time since 2015, where they memorably beat Arsene Wenger’s side in the Round of 16.
Arteta will be eager to seek justice on Monaco on Wednesday night, with three points crucial to build momentum.
Mikel Arteta hints at Kieran Tierney return vs AS Monaco
Arsenal are experiencing an injury crisis ahead of facing Monaco, with the defence undoubtedly the most impacted area of the squad.
As expected, Arteta was brief when quizzed on the fitness of his players in the pre-match press conference however, the boss did give one possible selection choice away.
The Arsenal manager was asked if Kieran Tierney could make a return to the starting XI, to which the Spaniard spoke fondly of the defender.
“He’s ready, he’s training well and he’s going to have an opportunity for sure,” Arteta confirmed.
“The way the team is looking at the moment, he’s going to do that for that reason and because of the way he’s behaved and the way he’s been with us.”
Tierney returned to the Arsenal squad against Sporting CP but didn’t make an appearance, with it now clear that the Scotsman could get on the pitch against Monaco.
When did Tierney last start for Arsenal?
At the point of returning to the squad during the Gunners’ win over Sporting, it had been 478 days since the defender had been named in Arsenal’s team competitively.
Should Tierney start against Monaco, it’ll represent the 27-year-old’s first inclusion in the starting lineup since the 14th May 2023 – 576 days ago.
| Competition | Apps | Starts |
| Premier League | 91 | 66 |
| Champions League | 0 | 0 |
| Europa League | 19 | 14 |
| FA Cup | 7 | 6 |
| EFL Cup | 5 | 4 |
Tierney last started against Brighton at the Emirates during Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat in N5, with different luck hoped for if he starts on Wednesday night.
It’s been a difficult time for the Scotland international, given that it was expected that Tierney could leave Arsenal before the 2024/25 campaign kicked off.
Instead, there’s an opportunity for a resurgence at the Emirates, something very few would have anticipated.
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