Former Arsenal and Celtic forward Charlie Nicholas has questioned whether now is the right time for Kieran Tierney to join the Gunners, and suggested that Manchester United should have moved for him instead.
The Celtic full-back is closing in on a transfer deadline day move to Arsenal, after a saga this summer over whether or not he would make the switch from Scotland.
But it finally seems to be happening, with Tierney expected to sign a five-year contract with the Gunners after completing a medical at London Colney, with Tierney set to compete with Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac for the left-back spot in the Arsenal side.
However, Nicholas has said that Arsenal should be targeting centre-backs, rather than a full-back, with the former Scottish international questioning the move.
"Kieran Tierney should be asking himself if this is the right time to join Arsenal," Nicholas said, as quoted by the Metro .
"I just don’t see how a left-back is a priority for my old club. Arsenal need a centre-back or even two before they should even be considering a full-back.
"Arsenal are a top-six side but they are probably short of the top four. If Tierney goes to the Emirates it will be far from ideal for him with the quality of the other Arsenal defenders.
"Tierney will need time to settle and adjust himself but it remains to be seen who he would have around him.
"Laurent Koscielny wanted out, Shkodran Mustafi needs to be sold and Sokratis has struggled. Outside of that all they have is a lot of promising kids."
Meanwhile, Nicholas is surprised that other top clubs were not in for Tierney, with the Sky Sports pundit claiming that he would have been a good signing for one of the Gunners' rivals for the top six.
"My disappointment for Tierney is that Arsenal are the only big Premier League club that has shown an interest," Nicholas said.
"I’m surprised Manchester United haven’t come in, because he is a better player than Luke Shaw."
