Arteta confirms season-ending injury blow for Arsenal star

After a welcome Premier League win for Arsenal, Arteta announced some bad news regarding the availability of Tierney.

Mikel Arteta has announced that Kieran Tierney will ‘probably’ miss the rest of the season for Arsenal.

The former Celtic star suffered knee ligament damage in a match with Liverpool on April 4. He has since missed the club’s last two games against Slavia Prague in the Europa League and the trip to Sheffield United on Sunday.

In Tierney’s absence, Granit Xhaka started as a left-back in the 3-0 win over Sheffield United. The Swiss did a decent job overall considering the circumstances, leaving Arteta with another potential option as cover alongside Bukayo Saka and Cedric Soares.

“Today he had a really strong performance and he gives you another option,” Arteta said on Xhaka as per the club’s website. “Kieran is out, probably for the season so we need different options at that position and he can be one of those.”

Mikel Arteta on Kieran Tierney "Kieran is out probably for the season." pic.twitter.com/ENYtm4zY7C

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) April 11, 2021

Given Arteta’s recent comments, Tierney now faces a race against time to return to fitness for Scotland’s European Championship campaign this summer.

The 23-year-old, though, isn’t Arsenal’s only injury concern. Saka limped off in the second half at Bramall Lane with a thigh problem. The versatile midfielder is, therefore, a doubt for Thursday’s trip to Slavia Prague for the club’s second leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

Arteta is, however, hopeful Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be available. The Gunners skipper missed Sunday’s victory through illness, but could still make a timely return.

“He was unwell yesterday, he could not train, he could not be available,” Arteta said on Aubameyang.

“But hopefully in the next day or two he will be feeling better and he will be available to get picked.”