Mikel Arteta must undo big summer mistake with Arsenal title bid in jeopardy

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Kieran Tierney could provide the solution to Mikel Arteta’s defensive crisis at Arsenal.

Kieran Tierney left Arsenal in the recent summer transfer window, joining Real Sociedad on a season-long loan deal.

However, things haven’t entirely gone to plan for the Scottish defender in Spain. The left-back has made just eight appearances in La Liga so far as a hamstring injury interrupted his progress.

If there was a recall clause included in the deal that took Tierney to Real Sociedad, Mikel Arteta should seriously consider bringing the player back to the Emirates Stadium during this January transfer window.

The most obvious reason for making this decision is the fact that the Gunners are currently light on options at the back. Summer signing Jurrien Timber is currently sidelined with a long-term injury. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White have both also faced fitness concerns this season.

On top of that, current first-choice left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko is in poor form and is considered to be a defensive liability.

Kieran Tierney could give Mikel Arteta chance to change Arsenal tactics

Tierney initially lost his place in the regular Arsenal starting XI to Zinchenko, as the Ukrainian is naturally able to play an inverted role and drift into the middle of the park, where he can act as something of a bonus playmaker. When given the chance at the club, Tierney struggled to replicate this function.

The 26-year-old is a far more conventional full-back, as he excels in bombing forward up the wing and delivering crosses into the box. Whilst this does not suit Arteta’s current tactical set up, in light of Zinchenko’s struggles, it could be just what Arsenal are missing.

Not only is Tierney and more solid defender than Zinchenko, he would also offer more support to Gabriel Martinelli further up the pitch. The Brazilian winger has been struggling to shine this season, and it has been suggested that he lacks players around him to combine with. Tierney would certainly solve the issue of Martinelli’s isolation.

What’s more, the 41-cap Scotland international could also strike up an effective relationship with summer arrival Kai Havertz. The 6’4” German international offers a real aerial threat in the box and could thrive off of the service provided by Tierney.

Tierney’s return would not only reinforce Arsenal’s defensive contingent, potentially saving them money in the transfer market and allowing them to invest in other areas of the pitch, but he would also give Arteta the chance to shake up his tactics, which may well be in order after the club’s Premier League title ambitions have taken a major hit after a string of poor recent results. Perhaps, then, it was a mistake to let Tierney go in the first place.