Arsenal man ‘finally’ happy after summer exit, namechecking Tierney in parting shot about key rejection

Nuno Tavares says that he feels delighted to be “finally” playing football for Marseille following his loan move from Arsenal this summer.

The Gunners signed the left-back from Benfica last summer and he made 28 appearances in his debut season there. Boss Mikel Arteta insisted upon his arrival that Tavares would provide solid cover in multiple areas.

Indeed, with Scotland’s Kieran Tierney last season’s undisputed Arsenal left-back, Tavares faced a battle for minutes.

In the end, Tierney’s injury towards the end of the campaign meant the Portuguese finished with a run of games. However, he has revealed that he did not feel entirely satisfied.

Arsenal let him move to France on loan and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s arrival from Manchester City alongside Tierney at left-back has made Tavares’ future uncertain.

In any case, he will be back at the Emirates Stadium next summer after Arsenal refused his wish for Marseille to have an option to buy him.

“At Arsenal, I do not know if it was a problem of competition with Kieran Tierney, but for me that’s not even the point,” Tavares told RMC Sport of the developments over the summer.

“I came to Marseille to finally be able to play in my position. When signing with OM, I wanted to have an option to buy, but Arsenal refused.

“With my agents, we always wanted this purchase option, but Arsenal didn’t.”

Tavares added in his interview with the French news outlet that he is looking to kick on at Marseille, with opportunities knocking in Europe.

Tavares looking for consistency after Arsenal exit

“Now I’m at OM, and with or without an option, I’m happy. At Arsenal, I would have probably only played in the cup [FA Cup and EFL Cup].

“I came to Marseille to play in my position, in the Champions League, in the league and in the cup [competition]. Marseille gave me this opportunity.”

Tavares, a Portugal Under-21 international, has played in all six of Marseille’s Ligue 1 games this term.

And his three goals from a more advanced position on the left flank show his desire to improve.

Future uncertain for left-back

But, with Tierney and now Zinchenko fighting it out for minutes at Arsenal this season, there seems little chance that Tavares gets a look in from next season onwards.

Tierney has been with Gunners boss Arteta since the Spaniard took over and is a vital member of the group.

Ukraine international Zinchenko, meanwhile, enjoyed a remarkable rise at Manchester City to help win four Premier League titles.

With Arsenal looking to finish in the top four, Zinchenko will therefore prove a key addition for his mentality – not just his ability.

For Tavares, it seems likely that Arsenal could try to sell him for a profit next summer.