Mikel Arteta on Wantaway Arsenal Star, Injury Setback

Mikel Arteta has hinted Kieran Tierney will be given an opportunity to play a key role in Arsenal’s run-in amid concerns over the fitness of Oleksandr Zinchenko. Reports on Thursday claimed Zinchenko was set to miss the rest of the season after picking up a calf injury during last weekend’s win over Newcastle. Arteta stopped short of confirming the Ukraine international’s fate at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s game against Brighton, but conceded there were significant doubts over him and William Saliba, who has been out with a back injury since March. Tierney has made just five Premier League starts so far this season but highlighted his worth with a solid performance at St James’ Park last weekend in place of the injured Zinchenko. When asked if Tierney would be given the chance to resurrect his Arsenal career, Arteta said: ‘There are opportunities for everybody. In every game they have to show that they are up to it and then that we make the right or the wrong decision with the line-up, giving the players the minutes that they deserve.’ Arteta also has the option of deploying Jakub Kiwior as a makeshift left-back and the Arsenal manager was full of praise for the January signing from Spezia who has caught the eye since coming into the team at the expense of Rob Holding. He said: ‘He’s been really impressive, really composed, really calm. He’s been brilliant against two very difficult opponents, with a lot of individual talents. He’s defended many situations and dealt with them in a great way.’