Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney provides fitness update after return to league action/Arteta confirms Holding will miss ‘a few days’

Arsenal 0-Manchester City 1

Sunday’s marquee Premier League clash saw Arsenal play host to Manchester City.

City of course headed into the tie viewed as clear favourites.

The Sky Blues began the day 10 points clear atop the Premier League table, on the back of a 17-game winning run across all competitions.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have been in fairly patchy form of late, having managed just one win in five.

The Gunners, in turn, sat down in 10^th spot ahead of kick-off, and really needed three points if they hoped to keep up with the Europe-chasing pack.

However, when all was said and done at the Emirates, it was City who came away with all three points.

Pep Guardiola’s men took the lead inside two minutes, when Riyad Mahrez floated a lovely cross into Raheem Sterling, who peeled away from Rob Holding to head the visitors in front:

🎙 | “It’s a brutal start from Manchester City!”

Raheem Sterling nods in the opener after less than 2 minutes – what a start! ⏰

📺 Watch on Sky Sports PL
📱 Follow #ARSMCI here: https://t.co/EbUsG6S1Mk
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/7JCLBEuXp4

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) February 21, 2021

To Arsenal’s credit, though, after weathering the early storm from the Citizens, they grew into the tie, and managed to keep the visitors out.

However, the north Londoners were unable to break down City’s backline, resulting in a 1-0 final scoreline.

Kieran Tierney & Rob Holding updates

Following the tie, meanwhile, Kieran Tierney provided an update on his fitness.

Sunday’s clash marked the Scotsman’s first start since returning from a recent injury, which had seen him miss Arsenal’s previous five league fixtures.

Tierney went on to complete 90 minutes, but, as the game wore on, concern mounted surrounding the full-back’s wellbeing:

Arsenal look dead on their feet. Tierney in particular looking really tired, like he’s dragging himself upfield whenever Arteta tells him to push up.

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) February 21, 2021

When quizzed on his fitness post-match, though, Tierney didn’t seem too down, assuring that he was simply ‘knackered’:

“I’m just knackered, it was a tough game and I was not sure I was going to get a full game, I am happy I got a chance”

🗣”I’m just knackered, it was a tough game and I was not sure I was going to get a full game, I am happy I got a chance”

Kieran Tierney reflects on Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City after his return from injury pic.twitter.com/oFCtYIy6nr

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 21, 2021

Elsewhere, Mikel Arteta provided an update on Rob Holding, who was forced off with a concussion vs City, confirming that the stopper is set to ‘miss a few days’:

Arteta says Holding “will miss a few days”, confirms that he came off through concussion protocol

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) February 21, 2021

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin closing on 2-game ban following Man City defeat

Video: Arsene Wenger opens up on Arsenal’s transition from physical to technical players & Vieira vs Fabregas

This article was edited by Conor Laird.

Source: 101greatgoals.com