Arsenal continue to push for a permanent transfer for Kieran Tierney instead of a loan, after the player was left out against Nottingham Forest.

As Arsenal prepared to take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday, one of the main talking points ahead of the game was the absence of Kieran Tierney from the squad announcement.

Various reporters confirmed that Tierney hadn’t suffered an injury, Mikel Arteta had simply taken the decision to leave him out of the squad.

Tierney wasn’t the only player to suffer this fate, with Rob Holding, Cedric Soares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Folarin Balogun, and Nuno Tavares among others currently in training but not in the matchday squad.

But it continues to raise questions about what Arsenal are planning to do with the left-back this summer.

Matteo Moretto reports that a potential Tierney move to Real Sociedad is still on the table and advancing, but Fabrizio Romano claims the Spanish side aren’t quite on the same page as Arsenal in negotiations.

The Gunners are currently insisting on a permanent deal for Tierney, whilst Real Sociedad have only been offering a loan move.

Romano adds that negotiations will continue next week to try and reach an agreement, but the race remains open to other interested clubs.

Perhaps the situation may have changed in the wake of Jurrien Timber’s potential injury setback.

Timber has been playing at left-back for Arsenal in recent matches, but if he’s out for an extended period of time then Tierney may be required again.

But Oleksandr Zinchenko should return to the squad soon, and Takehiro Tomiyasu can fill in for Timber in the system utilised on Saturday.

If Arsenal get a good offer, they’d probably still look to move Tierney on. A loan transfer doesn’t fit the description.