Arsenal learn crushing Kieran Tierney injury update

Arsenal learned the extent of Kieran Tierney’s injury after the left-back suffered a worrying looking issue in the first half of the 3-0 Premier League defeat to Liverpool.

The Scot has become an integral part of the team ever since his arrival and subsequent return from injury, a position that became even more important once Sead Kolasinac was allowed to leave the club, the only other senior recognised player for that position.

Would January dealings come back to haunt Arsenal? Martin Odegaard was a fine capture and Mat Ryan a necessary backup, yet without securing cover in the 23-year-old’s position Arsenal left themselves perilously open to weakness in the event of a setback.

That already occurred earlier in the year when Kieran Tierney was absent for seven games, a period that saw Cedric come into the side but win only two of the fixtures where he slotted into left-back.

Arsenal learn crushing Kieran Tierney injury update as Scottish left-back is set to miss both legs of Europa League quarter-final with Slavia Prague

Starting all three of Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers during the international break, there was no rest in store for Tierney against Liverpool for the exact reason as above: there is nobody else. However, the injury he sustained when challenging James Milner was not fatigue related.

"“Kieran Tierney looks set to miss both legs of Arsenal’s Europa League quarter-final against Slavia Prague, with the left-back expected to be sidelined for at least a few weeks with the knee injury he picked up against Liverpool on Saturday,” Goal revealed."

The news comes as a crushing blow with Cedric now set to feature in that position for the foreseeable future, even though Bukayo Saka would appear to be the more logical fit given he is left-footed and can provide the balance and overlapping runs that Tierney would make.

Importantly, though, is that Arsenal will be without their star defender for both legs of their quarter-final tie.

Given Arsenal’s lack of technical security in the final third, Cedric would be the obvious choice at left-back with Saka to return at right-winger. The Gunners aren’t the only ones with injury issues, as Slavia are to be without two centre-backs on Thursday, leaving them with just one fit senior option, 20-year-old David Zima.

Regardless of that, Tierney’s loss is huge in Europe and the Premier League. It could, however, have been worse with potential ACL damage among initial diagnoses. Nonetheless, you need your best players for your biggest games. Arsenal won’t have that, and are now preparing for a prolonged spell on the sidelines.