Kieran Tierney honest on Arsenal future as Celtic transfer fairytale sidelined by other 'love'

Brutally honest Kieran Tierney admits he expects to leave Arsenal again this summer when he returns from Real Sociedad.

The Scotland international and Celtic hero is out in La Liga this season on a temporary basis from the Emirates and has racked up appearances in the Champions League while emerging as a key player for Imanol Alguacil's side this term. However, it appears unlikely that Sociedad will make a bid to land the 26-year-old permanently and Tierney has conceded it would be "silly" for him to expect a second chance under Mikel Arteta.

Speaking to The Athletic, Tierney was asked if he expected to leave the English Premier League giants again this summer. The left-back said: "There is every chance. Look at the squad depth in that position now. They have (Oleksandr) Zinchenko, (Jurrien) Timber, (Takehiro) Tomiyasu, (Jakub) Kiwior.

"Four players can play there. So if I go back and it’s the same as before then I’m not silly, I know the chances are I’ll be leaving. But you never know in football.

"You get the rare case with (William) Saliba, where he came back after a couple of good seasons (out on loan) but you don’t see it too often with someone who has played for four years, left, and then come back to play again. Stranger things have happened. I could go back and there is a place for me. So I’m prepared for both.”

Celtic fans have long held the hope that the Hoops' star would make a return to Parkhead - but it appears the defender has his sights set elsewhere for his next club. He said: “You get one career and you don’t know how short or long it is going to be, so you have to try everything and make the most of it.

“I could see myself playing in Spain or Italy. I love La Liga. It’s a great league and I’ve