Kieran Tierney admits 'easy' Arsenal transfer exit choice as Real Sociedad thrust him into big changes and unknowns

Home has always been where the heart is for Kieran Tierney and he’ll always be pining for Scotland whether he’s in London or La Liga.

But the former Celtic favourite still gets a kick of getting out of his comfort zone. With Tierney strangely struggling for game time with Arsenal over the last 12 months, there was plenty of talk of the defender heading back to his first love with a dramatic return to Parkhead to hook up with his old gaffer Brendan Rodgers. The move didn’t come to anything and instead he shot off in the other direction – for a loan spell at Real Sociedad.

San Sebastian is another world away from Wishaw but Tierney is embracing another change in lifestyle. Even if his thoughts will always linger in Lanarkshire. Tierney said: “100 percent. Listen, I will always be a home boy. I always love Scotland and after my career is done I will always live in Scotland. But you only get one shot at this. I had the opportunity to go to La Liga and it was one I really didn’t want to turn down. I took the chance and so far I’m enjoying it.

“I am in a really good place now. I’m enjoying it over there in Spain. I was buzzing to get the move done, buzzing to come away with Scotland as always and we have another game against England before I return to the Basque region again. I am really enjoying it.”

From the outside it looked like a dilemma. A hero's welcome back at Celtic or a step into the unknown in Spain Truth is, the numbers never added up for Celts, Arsenal were never going to be keen on letting a talent like this go to a rival on loan and Tierney didn’t need any arm twisting anyway.

He said: “Was it a hard decision? No, it was an easy decision. It was a big decision, but an easy decision. Clearly it’s a big change