Arteta reportedly names Tierney in Arsenal squad for crunch Sporting CP clash | OneFootball

Kieran Tierney appears to be edging closer to a long-awaited return to the Arsenal first team.

According to Isaan Khan of the Daily Mail, the Scottish left-back has been named in the Gunners’ squad for their crucial Champions League clash with Sporting CP tomorrow.

Tierney has been sidelined since June after being stretchered off with a hamstring injury while on duty with Scotland at the 2024 European Championship.

A place in the Arsenal squad for this crucial Champions League fixture suggests Tierney may be ready to contribute again.

The Gunners are in a precarious position after losing to Inter Milan in their last match. A victory against Sporting is essential to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage alive.

Tierney could appear off the bench for token minutes, but he has Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori ahead of him in the pecking order.

The 27-year-old spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad, gaining valuable playing time in La Liga. His last appearance for Arsenal came in the Community Shield against Manchester City in August 2023.

Arsenal wanted to sell Tierney this summer as manager Mikel Arteta considers him surplus to requirements, but the injury forced him to stay.

He joined Arsenal as the best left-back in the Scottish Premiership in 2019. However, injuries have decimated his career, eating away his athleticism and forcing him to miss games crucial for his development.

Even as he returns to full fitness, he will likely remain on the fringes until the January transfer window, where the club can loan or sell him.

A return to La Liga could be on the cards for the former Celtic star, or perhaps a move to his homeland may help him recover his best form.