TIERNEYRETURNS TO ARSENAL TRAINING

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney has returned to training to provide his team with a big boost ahead of the Premier League encounter with Watford at the Emirates Stadium. The Scottish left-back has missed the last three games in all competitions since he picked up an ankle problem during the London Derby clash with Crystal Palace at home last month. Tierney was a casualty from the game as French striker Alexandre Lacazettecame off the bench to score in stoppage time and rescue a 2-2 draw for Arsenal against a Palace team led by former skipper and club legend Patrick Vieira.

Tierney has trained well in the last two days as revealed by his manager Mikel Arteta during the pre-match press conference for the Watford game. The Arsenal manager is hopeful that the ex-Celtic defender won’t suffer any setback so that he can take his place in the squad for the game against the Hornets at home.

In the absence of the injured Tierney, summer signing Nuno Tavares has performed well in his left-back position to the extent that some Arsenal fans are saying that the Scotland national team player might need to fight in a bid to regain his place back in the team.

Portugal junior international Tavares was impressive in the Premier League clash at home to Aston Villa. He helped the Gunners to a 3-1 win over Villa thanks to the goals from Thomas Partey, club skipper Pierre-EmerickAubameyang and the in-form Emile Smith-Rowe, while Villa got their consolation goal in the last ten minutes through substitute Jacob Ramsey.

The Villa game was the first of the three matches missed by Tierney till date. Tierney also missed the Carabao Cup round of 16 win at home to fellow Premier League team Leeds United. Bosnian star SeadKolasinac started the Leeds game at left-back as Arteta rested a lot of the first team players. Tierney also missed the away game against Leicester City in the Premier League last weekend.