Arsenal: Kieran Tierney typifies biggest issue as Gunners enjoy fitting end to difficult season

Yahoo

25-05-2025

As final days of the seasons go, this was about as cliche as it gets from Arsenal.
Three points, some final appearances for several players and a farewell goal for Kieran Tierney just to round it off.
All of it was, fittingly, played in glorious sunshine and about as close to the beach as you can get when playing in the Premier League.
This game had that on-the-beach feel to it, too, and that was hardly surprising. Both of these sides were essentially playing for nothing, with their fates at either end of the table already decided.
Mikel Arteta's team reflected that and arguably four of the XI he picked could have been playing their last game for Arsenal.
Tierney was one of those and the fact he was deployed at left centre-back summed up the patched-up side Arteta had thrown together.
It also typified the injuries the Gunners have had in defence all season. Riccardo Calafiori was the latest absentee, here, and it led to Tierney having to fill in.
The Scot did well, though, and he was arguably man of the match. He took his goal well, flicking the ball home at the near post after Ben White's cross had picked him out.
Tierney was a popular scorer among the away fans, who spent much of the afternoon going through their full songbook.
The goal from Tierney was out of kilter with a flat first half and was a nice moment for the Scot, who will be leaving next month when his contract expires.
He is set to be rejoining his boyhood club Celtic and this was a the ideal way for him to sign off his time in north London.
Southampton showed some fight in the second half, with their new boss Will Still sat in the stands watching on.
Ross Stewart headed home an equaliser after the break, rising highest from a corner, to bring some joy to the home fans.
Arteta, sat in the stands next to owner Josh Kroenke due to a touchline ban, sent for the cavalry after that.
On came Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard with just over 30 minutes to go. Kai Havertz and Myles Lewis-Skelly followed them shortly after and it almost immediately paid off, with Saka having a goal ruled out for offside.
Eventually, it was another substitute, Martin Odegaard, who supplied the winner. Picking the ball up outside the box, the Norwegian arrowed an effort into the bottom corner with just one minute of normal time remaining.
After a difficult season for Odegaard, it was a nice ending and summed up good afternoon's work for Arsenal.