ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta has refused to rule out an exit for Scotland international Kieran Tierney amid speculation linking the defender with Newcastle United.

Tierney has lost his place in the Arsenal starting XI this season after the summer arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City and has started just four Premier League games.

That has led to uncertainty about his future, with his representatives said to have approached Newcastle to discuss the possibility of a summer move. The switch to Tyneside is of interest to Tierney.

Ahead of Arsenal's FA Cup tie against Everton on Wednesday night, Arteta was asked about Tierney's position and whether the 25-year-old could leave in the summer.

"I don’t know, I’m not thinking about it," was the abrupt response of the Arsenal chief.

"I’m thinking about what’s best for the team  obviously and the players with the right to play minutes which they all deserve, and we’re going to try to do that in the next couple of games."

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Tierney has been a regular starter for Arsenal in the Europa League this season but has struggled for game-time in the Premier League. He joined the Gunners for £25m on deadline day in the summer of 2019.

Dan Burn has been Newcastle’s first choice left-back this season, with Matt Targett now back in contention after recovering from a heel injury.

Boss Eddie Howe was quizzed on transfers in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s Wembley defeat.

He said: "I don’t think there will be any overreaction to this game in particular but certainly we know how and what we need to do to push the team on."