Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney has been warned now is the time to "stand up and fight" for his place in Mikel Arteta's starting XI having lost his place in recent weeks.
The Scotland international was once viewed as one of the most important players in Arteta's Gunners system, but the arrival of former Manchester City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko in the summer has dealt a blow to Tierney's playing time.
However, the Ukrainian left-back has not been available for the last few weeks due to an injury, which led to many assuming Tierney would finally get a sustained run of games in the side. Instead, he hasn't started in either of the two games in Zinchenko's absence, with that role instead being given to Takehiro Tomiyasu - a right-back by trade.
This is something that should trouble Tierney, at least according to Gunners legend Nigel Winterburn, someone who knows exactly what it takes to shine for Arsenal in the left-back role.
The former Arsenal star exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: "As a player, you've got to wait for your opportunity, and the one thing that Kieran Tierney has got to worry about is that [Takehiro] Tomiyasu has played the last two league games ahead of him on that left-hand side.
"I could understand it against Liverpool; that decision made sense to me because the right-footed left-back really helped in keeping Mo Salah quiet and stopped him from coming inside as he so often does.
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"But I can't answer that question as to why Tomiyasu started ahead of Tierney against Leeds on the weekend. You might say it was a reward or recognition for the job he did against Liverpool, but there's been a Europa League game since then, and Tierney played in that."
Winterburn continued by mulling over the optics of the decision to drop Tierney in place of Tomiyasu, someone less suited to that role than the Scotsman.
"What's the message that's going to Kieran Tierney at the moment? As a player you want to feel as though you're battling for your position; now is the time for Tierney to stand up and fight for his spot, and prove he's the right man. I'd say watch this space because it's a really intriguing battle to watch."
Up next for Arsenal is a Europa League clash at home to PSV Eindhoven, a game Tierney is more than likely to start. But the true test of Arteta's trust will come a few days later when the Gunners travel to Southampton aiming to keep their stellar league form going.
Arsenal have won nine of their opening 10 Premier League games so far this term and now sit four points clear at the top of the table as a result.
Tierney has only completed a full 90 minutes twice in that run and all eyes will be on Saint Mary's come Sunday to see if he can force his way into Arteta's selection plans.
