Arsenal transfer news: Kieran Tierney is expected to depart the Gunners this summer and a decision by Mikel Arteta has further confirmed the likelihood of that outcome.
Mikel Arteta’s first starting XI of Arsenal’s pre-season vs Nurnberg has hinted at a significant amount of transfer and squad decisions. Firstly,the exit of Granit Xhaka looked set to leave a significant hole in the Gunners set up; however, the purchase of Kai Havertz from Chelsea looked set to quell any concerns.
Despite being bought as an advanced midfielder and training with his new club for over a week, Leandro Trossard has instead been given the nod in a midfield threewhich also includes captain Martin Odegaard andThomas Partey, despite widespread ɾєρօɾτs the latter could leave this summer.
In attack, Eddie Nketiah has been given the nod to lead the line and he will be flanked by Bukayo Saka and Reiss Nelson in a front three that isn’t too surprising. However, Arteta’s chosen back four is sure to cause some headlines, not least because it will see the return of William Saliba.
A back ιɴjυɾу saw the Frenchman miss the final months of the season but he returns against Nurnberg.Ben White’s start at right-back is as expected after the Gunners were unable to fly new signing Jurrien Timber over to Germany in order to make his debut, while Gabriel Magalhaes is unsurprisingly partnering Saliba in the centre.
Oleksandr Zinchenko has been left out of the squad which would usually mean an opportunity for Kieran Tierney, but that is not the case.Instead, Jakub Kiwior, who joined the club during the January transfer window in a Ԁєɑł worth £21million,has been named in the team after he made an impression on Arteta towards the latter stages of the last campaign once he had displaced Rob Holding from the team.
The Poland international has previously played at left-back for his country, but his preferred position is in the centre of defence. Tierney being left out could confirm that he is set to leave Emirates Stadium this summer amid interest from Aston Villa, Newcastle and former club Celtic.
It is claimed that Hoops boss BrєɴԀan Rodgers is keen to reunite with the player who was an integral member of his treble-winning squad during the Northern Irishman’s first spell in Scotland.
Rodgers is said to have been promised significant backing in the transfer market by the board, with the player open to taking a significant cut in his salary to rejoin the reigning champions.
