Forgotten Arsenal star gets lifeline as Mikel Arteta makes major Champions League decision

Mikel Arteta has included Kieran Tierney in his squad for Tuesday night's Champions League clash with Sporting CP, according to reports.

The Scottish defender has not played for Arsenal since a 14-minute cameo off the bench in the Community Shield against Manchester City on August 2, 2023.

It looked as if his Arsenal career was over, having been sent out on loan to Real Sociedad last season. He was due to either go out on loan or be sold this summer, but a serious hamstring injury during Scotland's Euro 2024 clash with Switzerland in the summer put paid to that.

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Now, it looks as if Tierney is set to be given another chance under Arteta. With Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu on the treatment table, and Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber only just back from injuries themselves, an addition to the full-back department is timely for Arteta.

Speaking last week the Arsenal manager said: "Kieran not yet. He had a couple of sessions with the team, but not ready yet. Tomiyasu is going to be out as well for a period."

Tierney was not included in the squad for the Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the weekend, but it appears he has travelled with the squad to Portugal to take on Sporting CP in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Despite his injury and his seeming lack of future in north London, Tierney was something of a surprise inclusion in the Gunners' Champions League squad named before the tournament got under way. And now that decision may have paid off with Tierney ready and available for the big game at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.