Paul Merson claims 24-year-old is brilliant every time he plays for Arsenal

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Paul Merson believes that Kieran Tierney is going to be a “big miss” for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.

The Athletic report that the former Celtic man will have surgery later this week on his knee injury, and he is facing several months out.

Arsenal lost against Patrick Vieira’s Crystal Palace 3-0 in the first match without the Scotland international.

Nuno Tavares deputised in the 24-year-old’s absence at Selhurst Park on Monday night, but Arteta brought off the Portuguese Under-21 international at half-time in what the Spaniard described as a “tactical” change.

The Gunners now have a big issue at left-back as they look to try and finish in fourth place and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Former Arsenal midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Merson feels that Tierney is one of the players that cannot be taken out of the side.

Merson said: “Kieran Tierney is going to be a big miss for Arsenal, after his knee injury before the Palace game.

“He’s one of the players you can’t afford to take out of this Arsenal team. He’s solid, he’s an 8/10 every week, he sets an example.

“He’s a winner – you know what you’re going to get with him, and he was a big miss on Monday night.”

Having endured a difficult night filling in for Tierney, Merson had sympathy for Tavares, who hadn’t started a game since being hauled off against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, back in early January.

Merson added: “Nuno Tavares had one of them games at left-back, but it’s hard when you’re out of the team for so long.

“You’re not really playing football – you’re just training. Even playing in the U23s, it’s not the Premier League.

“To come in and say: ‘Right, play in this game’ – you feel for these players. No matter how much you train, it’s not the same as playing.”