Arsenal could still sanction a transfer for Newcastle United target Kieran Tierney after losing Jurrien Timber to an ACL injury owing to Mikel Arteta’s backing of Jakub Kiwior.
That is according to Charles Watts, who reports that Timber sustaining a serious knee injury might not save Tierney’s future. Arsenal are now likely to be without the Dutchman for much of the 2023/24 season. But Arteta electing the retain the Scotsman would still be surprising.
Losing Timber on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest sparked suggestions that Arteta may offer Tierney a reprieve. He had left the left-back out of Arsenal’s matchday squad last Saturday. While natural right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu would even replace Timber.
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Arsenal could still sanction Tierney’s transfer despite Timber’s injury
Arteta had taken a real liking to using Timber at left-back after the centre-half’s transfer from AFC Ajax in July. The 22-year-old delivered some impressive performances throughout pre-season and in the Community Shield. Timber got the role in Oleksandr Zinchenko’s absence.
Even Kiwior started games at left-back during pre-season while Arsenal awaited Zinchenko’s return from a calf injury. Arteta started the 23-year-old centre-half in the Ukraine hero’s void against Nurnberg and the MLS All-Stars. Tomiyasu also started against Manchester United.
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Thus, Arteta could still sanction a late-window transfer for Tierney given Arsenal have Kiwior and Tomiyasu to deputise for Zinchenko. Such a decision could delight Newcastle given The Telegraph reports Eddie Howe is targeting Tierney. The Toon hope to sign the Scot on loan.
Kiwior could revel in the Newcastle target’s late-window departure
Arsenal would prefer to sanction a permanent transfer for Tierney to leave Emirates Stadium over Newcastle’s desired loan deal. While the Magpies believe the 26-year-old wants to seal a move to St James’ Park. He rarely played in north London last term after Zinchenko joined.
Kiwior also seldom featured under Arteta in 2022/23 after Arsenal secured his transfer from Spezia in January for £20m. The Poland international has so far only made eight competitive outings for 498 minutes. Yet he still impressed Robbie Earle against Chelsea and Newcastle.
“I’m going to give out my underappreciated performer of the week [to] Jakub Kiwior,” Earle told NBC Sports in May after the Gunners’ 2-0 win at St James’ Park. “He could have had a bad start with the handball. The penalty, it looks like it brushes off his knee or whatever.
“I think we got to the right decision. No drama, to go to Newcastle with that atmosphere, with that forward line, with that type of game with very little Premier League experience.
“People have asked, ‘why hasn’t he come in?’, with the [William] Saliba situation and [Rob] Holding. He looks calm, he looks composed. No massive dramas, no massive mistakes.”