Apoplectic Arsenal fans in Kieran Tierney chorus as Oleksandr Zinchenko shocker sparks meltdown

Raging Arsenal fans have hit out at Mikel Arteta’s decision to snub Scotland star Kieran Tierney in favour of Oleksandr Zinchenko - after blasting the Ukrainian full back over his shocker against Aston Villa.

Ex Celtic ace Tierney was sent out on loan to Spanish side Real Sociedad at the start of the season and Gunners supporters are calling for his return after a poor display from rival left back Zinchenko in a 2-0 home loss to Unai Emery’s Villains which put a huge dent in their hopes of winning the English Premier League title.

Fans flooded social media to question the decision to persevere with Zinchenko and allow Tierney to head to La Liga. One said: “Zinchenko is awful. Will never understand Arteta’s decision to keep him and loan Tierney out.” Another added: “How some Arsenal fans rate Zinchenko over Tierney is beyond me. Rank rotten.”

Tierney is contracted in north London until 2026 and one fan predicted: “Arteta is going to come full circle and end up back on Tierney for the left back position. He fancied Zinchenko over Tierney because of what he brings to our attack. Now he prefers (Jakub) Kiwior who is more stable in defence. Eventually he will comeback to Tierney who is a two-way full back.”

Arsenal signed Tierney from Celtic for £25million when Villa boss Emery was in charge at the Emirates and Gunners legend Martin Keown reckons his old club should have kept him. He told talkSPORT: “I like Kieran. I’d have liked to see him stay. Kiwior has been given the opportunity, and I’m not certain he is ready yet. Zinchenko is the player who came on at half-time (against Bayern Munich). I thought that was a really good move. (Arteta) might have wondered whether Kiwior was ready to play in that game, and that’s Tierney’s position.

“You might argue (Tierney) has been unlucky. But he wants to play. Let’s see what happens.

“Arteta has made some really big calls and he won’t be afraid to make them in the future. It might be that there’s another left-back who comes in. Someone completely different. So, let’s see what happens.”