Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney is set to rejoin Celtic in the summer, with Brendan Rodgers revealing at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference that the Scottish defender has penned a pre-contract agreement. However, Tierney’s pre-contract agreement may have affected his future at Arsenal for the rest of the season.

Rodgers did discuss his willingness to sign Tierney on loan until the end of the season if a deal can be agreed. However, Mikel Arteta was said to be unwilling to sell two left-backs in this window, with Oleksandr Zinchenko set to leave this month. A hint to Tierney’s future may have been given in Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Girona in the Champions League.

Tierney continued to be on the bench for the Gunners. However, what was interesting was that with Riccardo Calafiori starting, Arteta looked to bring Myles Lewis-Skelly off the bench instead of Tierney, in a sign that the talks over a potential loan deal this month may have affected how the Spaniard now views Tierney’s future for the rest of the season.

Tierney has consistently come off the bench in recent games for Arsenal, which at the time suggested he may have a future at the club. However, with a pre-contract agreed, Arteta may look to cash in on Tierney this month, as the club will ultimately lose him for free in the summer.

The Arsenal hierarchy will be desperate to get something for the Scottish left-back, who they reportedly paid £25 million for back in 2019.

For Celtic, a Tierney loan deal would represent an upgrade at left-back, as if they can keep him fit, the battle between him and fellow Scotland teammate Greg Taylor will be one to give the Hoops greater depth in the business end of the season.