Kieran Tierney made a brief appearance at the Santiago Bernabéu as Arsenal sealed their place in the Champions League semi-finals, dumping out Real Madrid with a 2-1 win on the night and a commanding 5-1 victory on aggregate.
Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney celebrates scoring a goal with Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Arsenal’s Jorginho that was later disallowed Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
The Celtic-bound full-back was introduced in the final seconds after the Gunners netted their second goal of the night, with Mikel Arteta handing the Scotland international a late cameo in a game that could yet end with Tierney collecting a winner’s medal.
At the end match, cameras picked up KT brilliantly celebrating with the Arsenal staff after Martinelli scored the winner:
Kieran Tierney so happy at the bottom of the screen is making me tear up!!!
Proper player ! He deserves this !!
Come on Arsenal !! Let’s go all the way. pic.twitter.com/V8aDVkvmwg
— The Arsenal Therapy Show™ 🟥⬜️ (@ARSENAL_THERAP) April 16, 2025
It’s the kind of footballing occasion Tierney has always belonged in. And while his future lies back in Glasgow, his involvement at the business end of Europe’s premier competition adds a glittering layer of pedigree to a player who’s already loved by the Celtic support.
The question now is: could Tierney return to Celtic Park this summer with Champions League glory on his CV? Arsenal are just three games away from lifting the trophy, with a semi-final against PSG standing in their path.
It’s shaping up to be a potentially triumphant homecoming for Tierney. And if he returns to Celtic draped in European success, it would be a serious statement of intent for Brendan Rodgers and the club. The pre-contract signing gets better by the day.
