Arsenal have started the season in the exact fashion they began the previous campaign with two wins and a home draw in the third clash. The mood is still in need of a lift following the perceived injustice of Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton and the injuries suffered by summer signings Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori – although the latter is hoped not to be too serious.
Several players are on the mend from other issues. Gabriel Jesus is hoping to make a return soon while Takehiro Tomiyasu continues his recovery from an injury suffered in pre-season which cost him any preparation.
The dark horse of the group however is Kieran Tierney. The Scotland international suffered a serious hamstring problem at the Euros which ended his tournament and his hopes of a summer exit from Arsenal which looked almost a formality following his loan spell with Real Sociedad.
Arteta said in mid-August that he would be missing for a few weeks and he has since begun individual training and therefore looking into the final three months of the year for when Tierney could be back makes the most sense. When he is fit, where he fits into the squad is in itself a question.
