Hutton: This may be real reason Kieran Tierney axed from Arsenal XI
Alan Hutton has suggested Kieran Tierney will struggle to win back his place in the Arsenal XI.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa right-back claimed Tierney will have to “battle it out” with Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Zinchenko started ahead of Tierney in the Gunners’ 3-1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday (4 September).
Zinchenko missed the London club’s previous two fixtures with a knee injury and was a doubt for the trip to Old Trafford.
Tierney was an unused substitute against the Red Devils.
Hutton suggested Mikel Arteta picked Zinchenko ahead of Tierney because of his offensive ability.
“Maybe he just believes that Zinchenko is better at going forward,” he told Football Insider.
“He has started him over Tierney that kind of says to me that he’s the first choice at this moment in time. I always thought Tierney would play, I rate him so highly, he’s a brilliant player so it is a shame for him.
“But he’s the type of guy that won’t lie down lightly. He’ll be going for that spot and giving everything. Just because the manager picks one player over another doesn’t mean his career is over there, I think he’s got a lot to give but it’s just about trying to break in.
“I genuinely thought Zinchenko would come in to play further up the field but the way Arsenal are playing at this moment in time, they’re so strong at the top end. So it looks like they’re just going to have to battle it out for the left-back role.“
In other news, Arsenal idol points to controversial report as Gabriel Martinelli footage analysed.