As the EFL Cup quarter-final approaches quick, questions around what combination of players Mikel Arteta will pick for his lineup against Crystal Palace have been asked. The Spaniard is fully expected to heavily rotate the team he usually deploys in the Premier League and other competitions, with youngsters and fringe players set to get more game time.
In the build-up to the match, questions about a potential start for forgotten left back Kieran Tierney have been asked. The Scotsman joined Arsenal from Celtic back in 2019 and was a regular for a couple of seasons before injuries and a change in tactics saw his role diminish. He spent last season on loan with Spanish side Real Sociedad, where he featured fairly regularly.
Now, back at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners are facing a defensive crisis with Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Benjamin White and Takehiro Tomiyasu all out injured, causing shortages in wide areas. Tierney is among those who are fit, but has not played for Arsenal in a long time.
Should he be considered to start against Crystal Palace?
Could Kieran Tierney start against Palace?
Tierney has been out of the first team for a significant period following Zinchenko’s arrival, coupled with several tactical changes. His last appearance for the Gunners came in their penalty shoot-out win against Manchester City in the FA Community Shield in 2023.
Since then, the role of the left back in the team has been more of an attacking role, something which Tierney is not so adept with. The Scot is more of a traditional fullback and excelled in a more defensive role earlier. However, he would find it hard to adjust to the current system so quickly.
Arsenal should ideally start with Myles Lewis-Skelly – a player who is growing up in the system built by Mikel Arteta, and should allow him to grow in it. However with the injury problems at left-back, Mikel may be forced into starting Tierney, who has made 124 appearances for the Gunners across competitions, scoring five goals and providing 13 assists as well.
