KIERAN TIERNEY’S exit from Arsenal hasn’t exactly been a secret.
But that hasn’t stopped an outpouring of disappointment from Gunners fans after the Celtic-bound defender’s time at the Emirates Stadium was officially confirmed.
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Tierney, 27, joined Arsenal in a then-Scottish record transfer from Celtic with the Premier League giants shelling out £25million.
The Scotland international became a popular figure in North London and went on to play 144 times for the club across all competitions.
The 2022/23 campaign proved to be a frustrating one with Tierney struggling for game time following the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko and he spend the following season on loan at Real Sociedad.
He returned to Arsenal but had to wait until late November to get back on the pitch after suffering a horror hamstring injury at Euro 2024.
Despite returning to fitness, he was largely restricted to substitute appearances.
Tierney signed off as a Gunners player by scoring on the final day of the league season in a 2-1 win over Southampton.
SunSport exclusively revealed first back in December that Celtic wanted Tierney back and that free transfer will be completed this summer when he officially becomes a free agent.
That will happen when his Arsenal contract expires on June 30, with the club finally confirming he’s on the way out.
Arsenal bid farewell to the popular defender with a couple of videos on social media.
One of those featured Tierney delivering a goodbye message to the Arsenal fans.
The emotional star said: “Just thank you for everything from day one.
“They supported us through the good times and the bad, and they supported me through some hard times as well.
“I think that’s what I’m most grateful for, the times where it wasn’t so good or so easy for me is when they probably supported me most, so I’m just very grateful and I feel very lucky to have the support from them.
“I feel so lucky that I’ve played for this club and the love that the supporters have given me has been amazing.
“I’ve loved every day here and I’ve learned so much, I’ve improved so much and I just feel very lucky.”
The second video was a compilation of Tierney’s highlights at the club and it seems like it was all too much for a number of gutted Arsenal fans to take.
One replied: “Stop it now.”
A second posted: “I’m not good right now, someone hand me a tissue.”
A third commented: “He understood.”
Another gutted fan said: “I am so very unwell with this.”
Several other Arsenal supporters vented their frustration at the fact Tierney wasn’t given a bigger role in the latter stages of his time at the club.
Many commented that he should have been made captain, while others reckon he deserved more than he got.
One Gunners fan said: “One of my favourite players, should have been more appreciated and stayed longer.”
Another posted: “The shining light in the dark days, always gave 100 per-cent.”
A third said: “Gonna miss that tucked short sleeved shirt coming from the left hand side. Thank you for everything, KT. You deserve so much more.”
A fourth posted: “In another timeline, he lifted the Prem as captain.”
Another baffled fan said: “I don’t understand why we are letting him go.”
A further comment blasted: “What a waste of everyone’s time. He was captain material and we skewered him for no reason.”
While another said: “Too good to be leaving Arsenal, you’ll do well wherever you go, KT.”
Another Arsenal fan added: “He deserved more. Good luck in the future.”
Tierney goals were a thing of rarity at Arsenal but one of his strikes certainly lives strong in the fans’ memories.
He scored a stunning goal – the only one of the game – as they beat West Brom 1-0 in a tricky away clash in January 2021.
It was a match held in rather heavy snow.
Spotting the goal among the highlights reel, one fan said: “We’ll never forget him balling out in the snow in a short sleeve shirt. Will always be a Gunner.”
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Another posted: “Never forget that incredible goal against West Brom in the snow. Have a blast at Celtic Kieran! We will miss you.”
A third commented: “The snow goal will forever be iconic. Our KT, King in the North!”
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