Kieran Tierney has been urged to stay at Arsenal by Gunners hero Bacary Sagna.

The Scotland international has struggled to pin down a starting position at the Emirates this season after Mikel Arteta signed Oleksandr Zinchenko.

However, despite reduced game time, Sagna has backed the Celtic academy graduate to stay and fight for his place.

Speaking to the SportingPost, he said: "I wouldn't leave the club. He needs to fight to play and come back into the manager's plan.

"He is part of what's becoming one of the best clubs in England, so where is he going to go?

"Of course you want to be able to play but sometimes you need to be out of your comfort zone, and he's out of his comfort zone now.

"So it's time to fight, not just leave and give up. What's the point of going somewhere where you know that you're going to start no matter what, and you're going to play - you're not going to progress in that environment.

"I had the same choice when I left Arsenal, because I was playing in a comfortable position.

"I could have stayed and yes, I was playing. But at some point, if you want to try and get better and you want to challenge yourself, you need to be out of your comfort zone."

READ MORE: SPFL post-split fixtures shows disdain for Celtic - Kevin McKenna

Meanwhile, Celtic legend Martin O'Neill has accused Rangers of being "paranoid" ahead of the Scottish Cup semi-final between the two sides.

The former Hoops boss, who won three league titles during his time in charge of the Parkhead side, also shot down calls that there is a "conspiracy" against the Hoops as a result of the post-split fixtures.

Ange Postecoglou had previously stated that he would have liked the Scottish champions to have one of their first two games at home after it was confirmed Celtic would play Hearts at Tynecastle on Matchday 32 and then make the trip to Ibrox after that.

O'Neill also touched on recent grumblings Rangers have had after Alfredo Morelos had a goal chopped off in the last derby.

He said: "Celtic start off after the break with two away games, hmm, do you feel as if there is a conspiracy theory there

"I left paranoia behind some time ago, it must be starting again! It was good to see from a Celtic viewpoint that Rangers are now taking it on after that disallowed goal.

"It's really great, something I never would have thought would happen. It is what it is, if you are going to win a league I don't think it matters what week it happens to be."