Kieran Tierney suffers major Mikel Arteta U-turn as Celtic and Sociedad offer salvation

Tierney has been forced to train away from the Arsenal first team just a week after Arteta said the Scotland star was staying put.

There’s only one outcome for Kieran Tierney after Mikel Arteta showed him the door at London Colney.

The Arsenal boss had offered Tierney a reprieve last week – even if no one truly believed it. Arteta had revealed there was still hope for the Scotland international – only to slam the door shut his face just a few days later by ostracising him from the squad.

Tierney was ordered to train alone – a slap in the face for a player who has even Carlo Ancelotti among his admirers. Brendan Rodgers is another but more of him later. It’s now inevitable that he’ll depart the Gunners before the transfer window closes next week – this just a week after Arteta insisted he was saying before banishing Tierney from the first team group. But it won’t be the North east after Newcastle’s long-time interest, nor Madrid despite Ancelotti’s admiration. It seems Tierney’s options, at least for now, are limited.

Could a homecoming to Celtic be on the cards? Well, Rodgers has refused to rule it out. He said earlier this summer that it was a nice thought, then he wasn’t prepared to deal in “what ifs.” It would of course be a no-brainer if the Hoops cold bring him home, but a loan is their best bet and even then, wage contributions could prove

Rodgers’ priorities are elsewhere. He’s lost three central defenders to injury and badly needs cover. A winger is also on his shopping list with Luis Palma at the top of it. After defeat to Kilmarnock, the Celtic boss admitted he needed more experience in the squad. Tierney would add that, but at a premium.

So it seems like Real Sociedad will win the race. They’re a big club playing in a strong league, but it’s not the move anyone would have expected for Tierney. However, it does offer crack at the Champions League group stage.

 

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Gustaf Lagerbielke makes a positive first Celtic impression behind the scenes at Lennoxtown

Gustaf Lagerbielke is quickly showing positive traits to key Celtic men such as Brendan Rodgers and Joe Hart behind the scenes at Lennoxtown – and everyone needs him to come up big over the next few weeks.

Despite only arriving at the club last week, Lagerbielke has suddenly found himself in place as the Bhoys’ most senior and talented central defender after injuries sustained by Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh.

He’s now set to be a key part of Rodgers’ starting eleven over the coming weeks with matches against St Johnstone and Rangers on the horizon, before stepping into the intensity of the UEFA Champions League.

Rodgers is already seeing maturity behind his youthful complexion and is eager to see how he develops from here, telling a media conference today: “He’s a very mature guy for someone who looks so young. He’s up to speed in terms of games, he only arrived into the building within a couple of days and was thrown into a tough away game at Kilmarnock.

“I’ve got absolutely no doubt he will prove over time to be an excellent player for Celtic and he’s really up for the challenge. I’m looking forward to seeing that development.”

Meanwhile, Joe Hart is similarly positive about his first impressions of the new signing, telling reporters on Thursday: “He’s a big, strong boy, with great energy about him with a huge smile on his face, but someone who gets over the white line and that smile’s gone and he’s all about business. I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops, and I’d love to be there to help him.”

Lagerbielke’s first match in Celtic colours may have ended in a defeat and a shock cup exit, but that will surely only motivate him more to go on and succeed at the Bhoys. He’s arrived in Glasgow with the potential to win trophies and represent himself in European competition.

The first few weeks look far tougher for him than anyone would have thought, but nothing ever comes easy for any Celtic player. Rodgers and Hart believe in him and hopefully he will show us enough quality over the coming matches to make fans trust him, too.