Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney has verbally agreed on a new five-year contract and is committed to the Gunners until 2026.
The shots were one of the brightest parts of Arsenal’s season last year, making 38 appearances in all competitions and chipping in with two goals and five assists.
Manager Mikel Arteta was understandably impressed with Tierney, and according to football.london, that feeling was shared by the Arsenal board, who are keen to reward the 24-year-old with a bumper new contract.
Technical Manager Edu has spoken with Tierney’s representatives and has reached an agreement on a new five-year agreement that is expected to be finalized in the coming days.
Tierney, who still has three years to run on his current deal, is seen as very pleased to show his faith from his club, who see the shots as a potential future captain somewhere along the line.
Arsenal see Tierney as a future captain / Christian Kaspar-Bartke / Getty Images
“I think he can be the Arsenal captain because he has respect and admiration for every employee and every player,” Arteta has said before.
“It simply came to our notice then. He does it in a natural way. He is also a really shy boy but he represents us all in the club; all the values we want to introduce and are in the DNA of this club. ”
Tierney will remain Arsenal’s first – back left-back next season, but the Gunners are considered to be on the lookout for a reserve in the position. They currently have no other left-back in the squad, with winger Bukayo Saka and midfielder Granit Xhaka the current options.
Arteta still wants a left-back / Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell and Hibernian’s Josh Doig have both been linked with a move to the Emirates recently, but Arsenal are expected to turn to someone with more Premier League experience and could dip their toes into the free agent market to find it.
Ryan Bertrand and Patrick van Aanholt are both available after leaving Southampton and Palace respectively, and both are believed to be on the club’s radar. What we do know is that Arsenal are prepared to spend £ 250m on new hires, a clear indication of their support for Arteta despite their struggles last season.
For more from Tom Gott, follow him on Twitter!
