Kieran Tierney has made a candid admission about his time at Arsenal, revealing he felt like a "different player" before sealing a loan move to Real Sociedad last summer.
The Scottish left-back, once a fan favourite at the Emirates, struggled for regular game time under Mikel Arteta last season, prompting his temporary switch to Spain.
A Fresh Start Needed
"I needed to play football again," Tierney told reporters. "When you're not playing regularly, you start to doubt yourself. I didn't feel like the same player who first joined Arsenal."
The 26-year-old made just six Premier League starts during the 2022/23 campaign, with Oleksandr Zinchenko establishing himself as Arteta's first-choice left-back.
Finding Form in La Liga
Since joining Real Sociedad, Tierney has rediscovered his confidence, making 15 appearances across all competitions for the Basque club.
"The style of football here suits me," Tierney explained. "I'm getting forward more, putting in crosses, and most importantly - I'm enjoying my football again."
Uncertain Arsenal Future
With his loan deal set to expire in June, questions remain about Tierney's long-term future. Sociedad have an option to make the move permanent, while Arsenal may look to cash in on the defender.
"Right now I'm just focused on performing for Real Sociedad," Tierney said when asked about next season. "We'll see what happens in the summer."
The former Celtic star joined Arsenal in a £25m deal in 2019 and made over 100 appearances for the Gunners before falling down the pecking order.
