Tierney admits it was an "easy decision" to leave Arsenal amid "big change"

Kieran Tierney has confessed it was "easy" to leave Arsenal and join Spanish outfit Real Sociedad on loan this summer.

The Scotland international arrived at the Emirates in the summer of 2019 from boyhood club Celtic and was tipped to become the best left-back to represent the club since Ashley Cole. However, persistent injury issues meant Tierney has spent a lot of his four years so far at Arsenal on the treatment table and is often unable to contribute when his team needs him most.

With that being said, Tierney wasn't plagued by fitness concerns much last season, nor the start of this one and yet Gunners boss Mikel Arteta still rarely called upon his services. The Scotsman found himself behind Oleksandr Zinchenko in the pecking order ever since the ex-Manchester City man signed last summer.

However, the writing was truly on the wall in regards to Tierney's Arsenal future when Arteta started to use Takehiro Tomiyasu, a right-back by trade, ahead of the ex-Celtic ace. It soon became clear that even if he was fit, regular first-team football was going to be hard to come by in north London.

What was not hard, however, was the decision to walk away from Arsenal, according to Tierney. Speaking to the Daily Record, the Scotland star said: “I am in a really good place now. I’m enjoying it over there in Spain. I was buzzing to get the move done, buzzing to come away with Scotland as always and we have another game against England before I return to the Basque region again.

“I am really enjoying it. Was it a hard decision? No, it was an easy decision. It was a big decision, but an easy decision. Clearly, it’s a big change for me. Culturally, the league, the language, everything is different. But I think you have to embrace it and put yourself in uncomfortable positions sometimes."

Tierney's move to Sociedad is only a loan deal until the end of this season and his recent remarks could irk some of the Arsenal faithful. However, the left-back was left with very little choice when it came to doing what was best for his career.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Were Arsenal wrong to let Tierney leave on loan? Comments below

In the days prior to Tierney's exit, Arteta seemed to suggest that the defender was part of his plans for the rest of the season as he played him in the Community Shield clash against Manchester City. Now, that decision looks like it was more to put the 26-year-old in the shop window than anything else.

Tierney has only made one appearance for his new side but is already back in Scotland to represent his country. His next outing will see him come up against familiar faces such as Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka when England make the trip to Hampden Park.

Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.