Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that he has held talks with Newcastle target Kieran Tierney about his future at the club.

The Magpies, West Ham, Leicester, Leeds and Aston Villa are all said to be interested in recruiting the fullback, but Arteta intimated that he told the defender to fight for his place:

“[It was] very good because we talked and we discussed the situation and we had a very similar opinion about that. He knows his role – under me he’s played a lot, more than any other player probably compared to the previous players at the club in the last three years and he understands the situation and he needs to challenge the situation.”

You have to think that if Tierney doesn’t get more game time between now and May he will ask to leave the Emirates.

The fact that discussions even took place between Arteta and the player suggest that he isn’t happy with his current role at the Gunners.

Tierney has made just 13 starts in all competitions, with just four of those in the Premier League. Oleksandr Zinchenko is clearly first choice and there are no indications that will change in the immediate future.

It has been reported that the former Celtic defender could be available for around £30m so we shall see if he is put on the market this summer.