Manager Mikel Arteta eased fears that Kieran Tierney had suffered another injury blow after the Scotland defender ended six months on the sidelines but was forced off before the end of Arsenal’s 3-2 League Cup quarter-final win over Crystal Palace.
The 27-year-old had not played since picking up a hamstring injury in Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland at the Euro 2024 finals in June.
Tierney had been an unused substitute for Arsenal’s previous seven games after returning to full training.
But, after being utilised as a winger, he was substituted after 69 minutes of his first Gunners appearance in 500 days with the sides level at 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s official website initially suggested it had been an injury, but asked about it in his post-match interview, Arteta replied: “It was cramp.”
On Tierney being pushed forward from his usual left-back role, the manager added: “He’s playing to his strengths. That’s something that we have to continue to learn, because they give you a lot of information.
“They tell you not sometimes with their words but with a lot of information, where they feel more comfortable and certainly there is a much better fit for him.”
Tierney’s return to action coincided with a report claiming that Arsenal have decided against taking up the option of extending his contract beyond the end of his current deal this summer.
His outing against Palace was his first appearance for Arsenal since coming on as a substitute in their penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield in August 2023.
Having fallen out of favour under Arteta, Tierney spent last season on loan to Spanish side Real Sociedad, playing 26 times as they finished sixth in La Liga.