(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney is to make his first Europa League start of the season, against Benfica in the game which kicks off in just over an hour’s time.
Tierney only featured as a so far in the tournament, which has reached the last 32 stage. In last week’s 1-1 draw first leg between the teams, Tierney came on in the second-half.
However, with Arsenal’s future in the tournament on the line, manager Mikel Arteta has selected a strong side, which includes the Scottish international.
Mikel Arteta gives Kieran Tierney some instructions (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
The game will be played in a unique setting. Despite Arsenal being the ‘home’ team, the match is not being played in London. Instead, it is being played in Greece, in Piraeus.
However, that shouldn’t stop Tierney from having an impact on the game. The 23-year-old has been one of Arsenal’s best players this season when fit. Therefore, it is no surprise to see him in the starting line-up.
Kieran Tierney in action for Arsenal (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
It will be interesting to see if Tierney manages to complete the 90 minutes, after all, he is not long back from an injury. Promisingly though, he did manage to play the entire game when Arsenal lost to Manchester City at the weekend.
However, it would be a nice bonus for Arsenal and Arteta if they managed to get the game wrapped up early, and were able to replace Tierney in the second-half. Only time will tell if that happens. Still, it is undeniably a bonus for Arsenal’s prospects in the game that Tierney is making his first start of the tournament.