Ex-Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre believes Kieran Tierney is facing an impossible task as he tries to oust Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The Ukranian is the preferred starter at left-back currently for Mikel Arteta and as a result, Tierney is finding game time hard to come by.

As a result transfer speculation is starting to mount around the defender, with Newcastle United heavily linked with a potential move.

Silvestre told bettingexpert.com: “Zinchenko is quite a special player. That’s what it is (when asked why Tierney is not able to break into the starting XI).

“You have to compete with someone else who’s won the Premier League already with City and he’s doing well.

"That’s what it is, it’s just tough because of that. So, you have to be patient.

"It doesn’t mean you just let go and wait. You have to prove in training every time that you deserve to play.

“But yes, it is difficult to get Zinchenko out of the team. It is pretty much impossible."

Meanwhile, Thomas Partey believes Arsenal’s young squad has matured into a team capable of winning the Premier League.

The Gunners sit five points clear at the top of the table having come from behind to seal a last-gasp 3-2 win over Bournemouth on Saturday.

No other squad in the top-flight is younger than the one assembled by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, but the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli have shone this season.

At 24, captain Odegaard is the oldest of that trio, while others such as Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White and William Saliba are also yet to hit their prime.

Despite lacking experience, which was balanced out to some degree with the signings of title-winners Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City last summer, Arsenal are riding high this year.

Asked if the likes of Jesus, Zinchenko and himself are talking the younger players through things – including keeping calm when chasing a game at 2-0 down – Partey replied: “Well, I think now they are not younger players any more.

“They have experience. They have been playing for a long time. They are mature. I think it is time for them to be able to achieve whatever they want to achieve. That is their dream. I think they are all ready to achieve this.”