Kieran Tierney summons Arsenal diehards as Tomiyasu red card draws fan confusion amid Mikel Arteta cold shoulder

He's been omitted from the Arsenal squad for the second successive matchday - but Arsenal fans reckon just one red card shows why Mikel Arteta MUST include Kieran Tierney in his plans.

A Gunners exit looks likely for the Scotland international, who has now been left out of both Premier League squads against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace in the opening weeks of the season. Real Sociedad have appeared as one destination while lingering talk of an emotional Celtic return are beginning to fade into the background.

But during the 1-0 win at Selhurst Park, Takehiro Tomiyasu was sent off in the second half for a second booking, with centre-back Gabriel coming on to replace him. Jurrien Timber - another central defender- had started against Forest in Tierney's left-back role and he also has Aleksandr Zinchenko to contend with, but the diehards are convinced their Japanese star's dismissal shows a glaring Tierney selection error.

One feared for them retaining their Champions League chances. They said: "Forcing a proper left back Kieran Tierney out of the squad just to play right backs on the left. If we get top 4 this season we are lucky." Another reckoned "Kieran Tierney is somewhere smirking; rise up king."

Arteta was asked by one punter "I’m happy with the three points but I need a few questions answered: Why didn’t Tierney start? Why wasn’t Tierney on the bench?" and that was added to with "Arteta better drop his pride and arrogance and get Tierney back in the starting 11." One more added "Arteta's clear favouritism cannot be healthy? How exactly would Kieran Tierney or Trossard not improve Arsenal today?"

Social media has been flooded with messages of similar sentiment but it remains to be seen whether Arteta will now