September 4th 2024.
It has been quite some time since Kieran Tierney last took the field for Arsenal. In fact, his last appearance for the club was back in August of 2023. But despite his prolonged absence, the left-back has been included in the squad for Arsenal's upcoming Champions League campaign, much to the surprise of many.
On Wednesday, UEFA announced the squads for all 36 participating clubs, including the four Premier League teams: Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and of course, Arsenal. The Gunners' 23-man squad features all of their summer signings, such as Neto, Tommy Setford, Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, and Raheem Sterling. However, there was one name on the list that raised some eyebrows: Kieran Tierney.
The 27-year-old defender has been out of action since suffering a nasty hamstring injury while playing for Scotland at the Euro 2024 tournament. At the time, it was expected that Tierney would leave Arsenal over the summer, but his injury put those plans on hold. Now, as he continues his recovery, his inclusion in the Champions League squad suggests that he may be back on the field before the end of the league phase in January.
Since joining Arsenal from Celtic in 2019, Tierney has made 124 appearances for the club. However, it has been evident for some time that he is not a part of manager Mikel Arteta's plans and will likely be allowed to leave once fully fit. Arteta addressed the situation last month, stating that Tierney needs to focus on his recovery and that the club will support him in any way they can.
The Champions League has undergone some changes for the 2024/25 season, with teams now playing eight matches in the new league phase. The top eight performing clubs will then advance straight to the knockouts. Arsenal's first match in this new format will be on September 19 against Europa League winners Atalanta. They will also face tough opponents such as PSG at home and Inter Milan away.
The full list of Arsenal's Champions League fixtures is as follows:
- Atalanta - September 19
- PSG - October 1
- Shakhtar Donetsk - October 22
- Inter Milan - November 6
- Sporting Lisbon - November 26
- Monaco - December 11
- Dinamo Zagreb - January 22
- Girona - January 29
Despite Tierney's absence, Arsenal will be looking to make a strong showing in the Champions League this season. Fans can expect to see some exciting matches as the team faces off against top European clubs. And with Tierney's return seemingly on the horizon, there is even more reason for optimism. Stay tuned for more updates and news on Arsenal's journey in the Champions League.
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