Topics: Football, Kieran Tierney, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Mikel Arteta, Premier League
Kieran Tierney has been told to stay at Arsenal despite interest from Newcastle United.
While the Gunners may not claim a coveted Premier League title this term, they have made undoubted progress.
Mikel Arteta’s men have led the pack for most of the season, playing an attacking brand of football inspired by the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Ødegaard.
Arsenal were also no doubt buoyed by the summer arrivals of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, with the latter having seized the left-back spot from Tierney.
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Indeed, the Scotland international has only made five Premier League starts this season, and it has been widely reported he would be open to moving to Newcastle in the summer in pursuit of regular first-team football.
However, Arsenal are in a strong bargaining position, given Tierney has over three years left on his current deal, with the north Londoners looking for more than the £25million they paid to sign him in 2019.
Former Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna urged Tierney to stay with the Gunners beyond the summer and fight for his place.
Speaking to Sportingpost the Frenchman said: “I wouldn't leave the club. He needs to fight to play and come back into the manager's plan. He is part of what's becoming one of the best clubs in England, so where is he going to go?
“Of course, you want to be able to play but sometimes you need to be out of your comfort zone, and he's out of his comfort zone now. So it's time to fight, not just leave and give up.
“What's the point of going somewhere where you know that you're going to start no matter what, and you're going to play - you're not going to progress in that environment.
“I had the same choice when I left Arsenal because I was playing in a comfortable position. I could have stayed and yes, I was playing. But at some point, if you want to try and get better and you want to challenge yourself, you need to be out of your comfort zone.
“Zinchenko is giving him a challenge to fight for his place, so he has to train harder and get back to his very best level so he gets his opportunity and then he has to take it. If he does that he won’t be spending so much time on the bench.”
