“I was devastated when he told me he’d be leaving by January. Without him, we’re lost on the pitch,” Zinchenko said tearfully at a press conference, referencing the departure of another key Arsenal player—not Saka or Martinelli.
### Arsenal Player No Longer in Mikel Arteta’s Plans
An Arsenal player is set to leave the club in the January transfer window, as he’s no longer part of Mikel Arteta’s plans.
It has come to light that a previously overlooked Arsenal player will exit soon.
After a mostly disappointing loan at Real Sociedad, Kieran Tierney appeared likely to depart Arsenal over the summer. However, his plans were disrupted when he suffered a tournament-ending injury during Scotland’s Euro 2024 match against Switzerland.
Although Tierney has recovered, he has not yet made the matchday squad this season, leading some fans to forget he’s still part of the team.
Reliable journalist Charles Watts reported that the 27-year-old is no longer in Arteta’s plans and is expected to leave shortly. He stated, “Kieran Tierney is NOT in Mikel Arteta’s plans anymore. There’s no animosity; he understands the club has evolved, and his style as a left-back doesn’t fit our current needs.”
“Tierney is still working on his fitness after the serious hamstring injury he suffered at the Euros. Without that injury, he’d likely have found another club by now.”
“Come January, he’s expected to seek a move—most likely on loan—to gain playing time before pursuing a permanent transfer in the summer.”
Despite his injury struggles, Tierney remains a fan favorite, with many supporters expressing sympathy over his situation. One fan commented, “I think it’s disrespectful to a player who was our best during tough times. It’s tough, but it feels like some players are treated more leniently than others,” on X (formerly Twitter).
