Arsenal’s squad photo for the 2024/25 season has been released, and there are some notable highlights.
The Gunners’ first team assembled with manager Mikel Arteta at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Tuesday. New signings Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, Neto, and Raheem Sterling were all featured in the team photo.
Surprisingly, the image also included four academy graduates: Ethan Nwaneri, Lewis Myles-Skelly, Tommy Setford, and Ayden Heaven.
One unexpected inclusion was Kieran Tierney, the full-back who many assumed had departed the Emirates. Despite being heavily rumored to leave over the summer, Tierney remains with Arsenal. He spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad but struggled with recurring hamstring injuries. The Gunners had initially sought £30 million for Tierney, who was acquired for £25 million from Celtic in 2019. However, after a challenging season that saw him stretchered off at Euro 2024, Arsenal reduced their asking price.
Tierney, who played just 20 times for Sociedad last season and hasn’t featured for Arsenal since August 2023, surprised fans with his inclusion in the squad photo. Reactions on social media ranged from surprise at his continued registration to comments about the squad’s depth and the presence of academy players.
Following his return from Spain, Tierney has acknowledged that he faces stiff competition for a first-team spot, with players like Zinchenko, Timber, Tomiyasu, and Kiwior ahead of him in the pecking order. He expressed to The Athletic that while a return to prominence seems unlikely, football can be unpredictable, referencing William Saliba’s successful reintegration into the team after a loan spell.
Despite a pre-Derby squad crisis, Arsenal secured a victory over Spurs in the North London Derby on Sunday.
