Arsenal Ace To Sold Before Closure Of Transfer Window

The absence of the Scotland national team player, Kieran Tierney, was notably conspicuous in the recent Arsenal match against Crystal Palace, where they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory on a Monday evening. This occurrence marked the second instance of such an event happening this season, leaving fans and pundits alike speculating on the underlying reasons behind this unforeseen development.

For the second consecutive match, Kieran Tierney found himself excluded from the Arsenal squad for a pivotal Premier League encounter. In the previous weekend, he observed the team's season commencement with a mix of anticipation and perhaps a tinge of frustration, as the Gunners clinched a 2-1 triumph against Nottingham Forest, with Tierney relegated to a spectator role. Subsequently, on Monday night, the Scottish player found himself in the unfamiliar position of supporting his fellow teammates from his residence. Despite being reduced to 10 players during the second half, Mikel Arteta's resilient squad managed to clinch a gritty 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace.

This represents a novel and intriguing situation for the 26-year-old, considering his remarkable consistency last season, where he was a mainstay in every Arsenal match in the Premier League. As a result, these successive omissions have only intensified the already rampant speculation about the possibility of his departure before the closure of the summer transfer window at the start of the upcoming month.

Amidst the swirling conjectures, fans on social media have offered a spectrum of explanations for Tierney's absence, with opinions ranging from tactical considerations to potential injury concerns. A particularly prominent theory emerged in light of Jurrien Timber's unfortunate ACL injury on the opening weekend of the new season. Some fans are now theorizing that Tierney's omission could be indicative of a larger transition within the club, leading to predictions that Tierney might not remain with the club after the transfer window closes on September 2. While these speculations remain within the realm of conjecture, they underscore the heightened attention on Tierney's role within the club.

While the uncertainty persists, it's worth considering the straightforward explanation for Tierney's absence in the Crystal Palace match. Typically, when a key player is absent, the club provides an official explanation, especially if the absence is due to an injury. A case in point is Jorginho's absence from the Premier League curtain raiser match against Manchester City, where the club publicly acknowledged the injury-related reason for his non-participation.

Interestingly, the absence of an official explanation for Tierney's exclusion from the matchday squad on Monday night raises intriguing questions. The absence of an injury-related disclosure implies that he was indeed fit and available for selection. This conclusion is further bolstered by his participation in a rigorous training session ahead of the Selhurst Park match. Therefore, it can be inferred that Tierney's absence was a deliberate strategic decision made by Arteta when meticulously selecting the traveling squad.

As elaborated by football.london ahead of the match, given the current size of the first-team squad and considering recent departures, including players like Runar Alex Runarsson, Matt Turner, Marquinhos, and Auston Trusty, Arteta was inevitably faced with the unenviable task of excluding some players. This predicament led to the selection of a tightly constrained 20-man matchday squad, adhering to Premier League regulations. Consequently, this necessitated making difficult choices, leaving out certain first-team players. Tierney, regrettably, was one of the senior players who experienced this disappointment alongside the aforementioned trio.

The notable inclusion of Oleksandr Zinchenko back into the squad, coupled with Gabriel Magalhaes and Jakub Kiwior being named, provided the necessary defensive depth on the bench for Arsenal. As the events on the pitch unfolded, these players were promptly summoned to action, fortifying the defensive lines and collectively contributing to securing the narrow 1-0 lead, particularly after Takehiro Tomiyasu's sending off.

In a recent statement addressing Tierney's omission, Arteta expressed the hope that the left-back would be genuinely affected by the decision, reinforcing the idea of healthy competition for positions within the team. In truth, if Tierney remains committed to the team, his intermittent exclusions could potentially become a recurrent theme as the season unfolds, primarily due to the wealth of talent and depth in his specific position. This dynamic challenges both the player and the manager to navigate an intricate balance between individual aspirations and the collective success of the team.