Jakub Kiwior faced initial challenges upon joining Arsenal from Spezia for £20 million, waiting until March for his first start. Despite struggling to make an impact initially, he showcased his defensive prowess in a late-season run last year, notably shining in a 2-0 victory against Newcastle. However, this season began with Kiwior relegated to a bit-part role once more.
In recent weeks, though, Kiwior has enjoyed a resurgence, securing four consecutive starts as Arsenal solidified their defensive solidity. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has conceded just 1.88 expected goals since the winter break, the lowest in the Premier League. Additionally, Kiwior has contributed offensively with a goal against Newcastle and an assist against Burnley from his left-back position. Arteta spoke highly of Kiwior’s recent performances ahead of Monday’s fixture against Sheffield United, acknowledging his significant contribution.
“We made a decision to bring him in earlier, because we believed that whichever player we were going to sign to have the role that he had to have was going to need time, and that was the case,” the Spaniard said of Kiwior’s adaptation to life in England.
“And we have made it difficult for him for two reasons: One, because he hasn’t played that many minutes, and the second one because we asked him to play in a position that he’s never played in before. So it’s like putting William Saliba as a full-back, and saying, “There we go, tomorrow go and perform and do what we have to do!” And I think he’s adapted really well.
One of the notable adjustments that appears to have enhanced Jakub Kiwior’s performance is deploying him in a more conventional full-back role. Earlier in the season, when he was positioned at left-back, Kiwior struggled to replicate the inward movement typical of Oleksandr Zinchenko. However, with Ben White now transitioning to a central role from the right, Kiwior has been able to focus on his defensive prowess as a pure full-back. This tactical shift, subtly implemented by Arteta, reflects a commitment to optimizing players’ strengths and ensuring they operate in positions where they feel most comfortable and effective.
“I think he’s playing better and better, you can tell that he’s earning the confidence and physically he’s better, he understands the role much better and he’s been really good.”
Despite rumors linking him with a departure from north London, Jakub Kiwior remains firmly in Arsenal’s plans. Sources indicate that Italian clubs have expressed interest in securing his services, but Kiwior’s recent run of regular game time at Arsenal could sway his decision to stay beyond the summer.