Kieran Tierney made his final appearance at the Emirates Stadium as an Arsenal player on Sunday night, receiving a warm and emotional send-off from the home fans during the club’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle United.
Introduced in the closing moments of the match, Tierney was greeted with thunderous applause and chants from the Arsenal faithful—a rare sight in modern football, where players bound for other clubs are more often ignored than honoured. The win, Arsenal’s second-to-last game of the season, secured their position as Premier League runners-up.
Tierney’s brief return to the field came as a surprise to many, given his pre-contract agreement to rejoin Celtic this summer. Many assumed the 26-year-old would be sidelined for the remainder of the season, but manager Mikel Arteta opted to give him a final Emirates cameo—one that clearly struck a chord with supporters.
The moment was a testament to Tierney’s character and professionalism during his time in North London. Despite limited game time this season and falling down the pecking order, the former Celtic star remained respectful, never voicing frustration publicly or causing unrest. For many fans, his attitude under challenging circumstances only strengthened their admiration, especially amid criticism of how he was managed.
Tierney departs Arsenal after more than 120 appearances since joining from Celtic in 2019. His return to Glasgow is a significant coup for the Scottish champions, with the experienced left-back set to reinforce Brendan Rodgers’ defensive ranks next season.
