Kieran Tierney looking 'really sharp' as Arsenal set return date for stricken Scotland star

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that Kieran Tierney is 'quite close' to making a return from his latest injury setback.

The former Celtic defender has missed the first three months of the season after being taken off on a stretcher with a serious hamstring problem in Scotland's 1-1 draw with Switzerland at the Euros. Tierney spent the whole of last season on loan at Real Sociedad in La Liga - where he made 26 appearances in all competitions - and last featured for the Gunners as a substitute in the penalty shootout victory against Manchester City in the Community Shield in August 2023.

Aside from his continued injury woes, the 27-year-old has struggled to hold down a starting berth under Arteta and has seen his chances of regular minutes dashed even further with the summer arrival of Italy star Riccardo Calafiori and the return to fitness of Netherlands international Jurrien Timber.

But speaking to the media ahead of the Carabao Cup tie with Preston North End on Wednesday night, Spaniard Arteta says he is hoping to have the Scot back very soon. He said: "I think he’s quite close, he looks good, really sharp. He hasn’t trained with the team yet, hopefully he can do that in the next week or two."

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