Kieran Tierney was only suffering from cramp during the Arsenal match on Thursday, despite the initial concerns of a more serious injury.

Arsenal's Scottish defender Kieran Tierney receives medical treatment during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on June 25, 2020. (Photo by Mike Hewitt / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney receives medical treatment on June 25, 2020. (Photo by MIKE HEWITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

After an encouraging performance for 70 minutes of Arsenal’s victory over Southampton, Kieran Tierney left the pitch after seemingly suffering an injury.

That immediately sent Arsenal fans into a panic, given the left-back’s recent fitness record. However, Goal journalist Charles Watts quickly allayed some of those fears by reporting on something he overhead the player say after coming off.

If second-hand information overheard near the player benches isn’t enough for you, Mikel Arteta gave a longer update after the match. Once again, he suggested the problem was cramp, partly brought on by the weather.

“Kieran was cramping,” Arteta told Arsenal.com. “He hasn’t played two games together in the last seven or eight months and he was suffering. The weather is different to Scotland and he needs to adapt to it.”

You do feel for Tierney a bit. The English weather is already warmer than Scotland, then add in the fact we’re deep into June, it was a sunny day and he spent the whole first-half playing directly in the rays of that sunlight.

Thankfully, Arsenal write that he’s “available for selection” for Sunday’s match against Sheffield United. Whilst you’d think he might get a rest, it’s good to have the option, at least from the bench.