By Frank McAvennie

9th Sep, 2023 | 11:46am

Arsenal have made Kieran Tierney 'mistake' after deal agreed - pundit

Arsenal made a “mistake” letting Kieran Tierney go on loan this season.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Celtic and West Ham striker Frank McAvennie said he is “delighted” Tierney is finally getting game time.

On 27 August, the Gunners confirmed the 26-year-old has joined Real Sociedad for the 2023-24 campaign.

The defender was left out of matchday squad for the club’s first three Premier League games before his switch to Spain was confirmed.

Tierney has struggled for game time at the Emirates and fell further down the pecking order following the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Man City last summer.

The left-back started just six Premier League games last term and Tierney confirmed he didn’t miss a single match because of injury in the 2022-23 campaign.

McAvennie suggested Mikel Arteta could come to regret letting the defender leave this summer.

“I think it was a mistake for them to let Tierney go,” he told Football Insider.

“I do not know why he could not get into the side but It is great for Tierney.

“He is just a boy from Glasgow wanting to play football and is away to Spain which is brilliant for him. I am delighted for him because he is a top, top player. How he can’t get into the Arsenal team is bizarre.“

The Scotland international has made two appearances for the La Liga side so far this season and started his first La Liga game in a 5-3 win over Granada last weekend (2 September).

In other news, Kieran Maguire drops ‘absolutely critical’ Arsenal verdict as new deal agreed.