[ad_1]
Mikel Arteta admits he doesn’t know when fullback Kieran Tierney will return for Arsenal after the Scotsman retired ahead of the club’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.
Tierney was withdrawn just two hours before the game with a muscle problem, and Arsenal were notably lackluster in their performance against the Eagles.
While he’s an important part of Arsenal’s defensive line, Tierney has also become increasingly crucial to Arteta’s attacking style, and the coach hopes the 23-year-old won’t be out of the game for long.
“He is a real threat and the way we attack from the left is really important, but he was not here and we need to find other solutions,” Arteta admitted.
‘It’s a challenge when you’ve created a game plan for the day and a few hours before the game you have to retire. Kieran’s progression over the past few months has been incredible and now it’s time for another player to step in.
Tomorrow you will have an MRI and see how you are.
‘We don’t know (how long it will be out), we will probably know more tomorrow after testing it and how long it will be out. It was a great disappointment to lose him and I hope he will be back with us shortly. ‘
Speaking about the Scottish left-back’s retirement before the Palace game, Arteta hinted that fatigue may have influenced both Tierney’s injury and her decision not to play for him.
“Tierney had some muscle pain, he did not recover well and he did not feel comfortable to start the game and in this period we cannot take the risk,” he said.
The timing is unfortunate, as Tierney has scored one goal and two assists in his last three league games. Arsenal host Newcastle United in their next Premier League game on Monday.
As for Arsenal’s pale performance against the Eagles, Arteta accepted that his team lacked “some freshness and some quality in the final third.”
‘There were situations where we missed the last pass or the moment, or the last shot. We probably had to generate more to be able to win that match, ‘he said.
“I would like to see a victory today and score some goals, and it didn’t happen. There were also times when fatigue played a great moment, when we started giving away very difficult balls.
“I can’t blame the spirit, the fight they put in. They tried until the last minute, but today was not enough.”
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
[ad_2]
