Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit believes Kieran Tierney’s emotional return to Celtic could reignite the defender’s career after a challenging spell in London.
The Scotland international will complete his homecoming this summer after Arsenal declined to trigger a contract extension, allowing the left-back to sign a pre-contract with his boyhood club.
Petit argues that despite Tierney’s struggles for consistent game time at the Emirates – where he’s recently been deployed out of position due to Arsenal’s injury crisis – the 26-year-old returns to Glasgow as an improved player.
The French World Cup winner emphasized how crucial feeling valued will be for Tierney’s resurgence.
“Whatever people will say about Kieran Tierney, I think he’s been really unlucky with injuries and, whether or not you think his transfer to Arsenal was a success or not, he’s grown as a footballer,” he told PokerFirma.
“He’s gained some incredible experiences that will only benefit Celtic and his team-mates.”
Petit traced Tierney’s Arsenal journey from potential future captain to peripheral figure, noting:
“He was a key player for Arsenal, and then he got injured. They spoke of him as a future captain at one point. He lost his spot, and then he had the courage to go and try something different and went and played in La Liga for a season with Real Sociedad.”
The former midfielder believes returning to Celtic Park provides the perfect environment for Tierney to rediscover his best form:
“Celtic will be getting a better player back than the one they sold, it’s never been a question of ability, it’s always fitness… I can understand that sometimes a player wants to feel at home, to feel loved. This is why I think that going back to his boyhood club Celtic will be a good choice for him.”
Petit concluded by stressing the psychological benefits of the move:
“He’s going back to where he came from to try to rebuild himself. It’s very important for a player to feel desired and for a player to contribute. He will be able to do that at Celtic.”
The reunion with Brendan Rodgers, under whom Tierney previously thrived, could prove pivotal in restoring the defender’s confidence and consistency.