Kieran Tierney rules out Arsenal return as Mikel Arteta opens up on left-back transfer plans

Kieran Tierney has ruled out cutting his loan with Real Sociedad short and returning to Arsenal this month.

The Scotland left-back joined Sociedad on a season-long deal during the summer after losing his place at Arsenal to Oleksandr Zinchenko, whose recent calf injury has left the Gunners without a natural left-back in the senior squad.

Manager Mikel Arteta has used centre-back Jakub Kiwior as cover out on the left, as well as right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu, but some fans have called for Arsenal to simply recall Tierney to bolster their squad for the remainder of the season.

Quizzed on the speculation by Noticias de Gipuzkoa, Tierney confirmed he will not be heading back to Arsenal early.

"Several people have asked me about this but the answer is no. I am definitely staying here [in January]," Tierney said. "Arsenal fans are great, they always gave me a lot of support. During the four years I was there, I will always be grateful to the fans."

With Zinchenko injured and Tomiyasu now leaving the club for the Asian Cup, Arsenal are light at left-back and Arteta confessed during Friday's press conference that signing a new defender is a possibility.

"We are open for the transfer market but, again, the emphasis is on making the most of what we have," Arteta told the media. "We will work with the club to see if we have any possibilities or good options. First of all we will focus on the players that we have."

Arteta did, however, confirm that not signing a new defender is also a "possibility".

Tierney's loan with Sociedad does not include the option for a permanent transfer and so the Scot will return to Arsenal in the summer, when he will have two years remaining on his contract.

"The decision is not mine," Tierney said of his long-term future. "But the only thing I can say is that I love playing for Real. And I'm enjoying it very much."

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