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This is the truth about Kiwior's situation at Arsenal. We hear: “He is needed” Football

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We have become accustomed to the fact that Jakub Kiwior was not and is not Mikel Arteta's first choice for Arsenal. Today, the Pole is not second or even third in line to play on the left side of the Gunners' defense. For the seventh game in a row, he was literally welded to the bench. He loses the competition there with everyone, even a teenager. If he's thinking about performing regularly, it's time to leave London. But on the other hand, Arteta knows his capabilities and knows how to manage him. However, it is mainly the Polish national team that loses due to the unplayed Kiwior.

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No more Kiwior on the left defense

At the turn of November and December, we were happy that Jakub Kiwior made a series of several appearances in a row in the Arsenal first team. He replaced the injured Gabriel Magalhaes, but he fulfilled the tasks entrusted to him. He showed his good side, among others: in the league match against Manchester United (2-0) and the Champions League match against AS Monaco (3-0). He did worse in the English League Cup match against Crystal Palace (3-2), when he received the lowest marks, and his error in the first minutes contributed to the loss of a goal. He hasn't left the bench since the match against the Eagles. The Brazilian returned to health and the starting lineup.

The situation at Arsenal has developed in such a way that Arteta does not feel the need to use Kiwior now. There is no question of a conflict between the player and the coach. The Pole must wait for another absence of Gabriel or William Saliba.

In turn, the Pole can forget about playing on the left side of defense. There he is practically the fifth to play. Oleksandr Zinchenko (18 minutes in the last seven games) and Kieran Tierney (22 minutes, played only in the last two games) have higher ratings under Arteta. Ricciardo Calafiori played 168 minutes in two matches, but is currently recovering from a muscle injury. Myles Lewis-Skelly has become a reliable player on the left back. The 18-year-old, a graduate of the Gunners, considered a great talent, has been playing regularly since December. He is now benefiting from the Italian's injury and strengthening his position.

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According to RadosÅ‚aw Przybysz, we should stop looking at Kiwior from the perspective of playing on the left side of defense. This topic was closed by Arsenal's teenage talent. – Myles Lewis-Skelly, talented left back, with a forward thrust. Also a nominal midfielder, a player with Zinchenko's profile. Such a more solid Zinchenko, it doesn't reflect well on the Ukrainian. At this point he seems to be first in the hierarchy. The last north London derby was very successful for him. Despite being 18 years old, he plays very maturely, calmly, confidently, he anticipates the opponent's moves well, he passes well, but he also has good physics, he doesn't lose the ball, he keeps the ball under pressure. It can be said that he has many advantages that Kiwior lacks. The fact that he broke into the first team also meant that Kiwior is now considered strictly as a center player, Gabriel's replacement. He should not be considered as a left back. But there is no reason to change anything in the Gabriel-Saliba duo, it is probably the best central defender duo in the Premier League – says a journalist from “Meczyki” and Viaplay in an interview with Sport.pl.

– It is speculated that Jorginho and Thomas Partey are leaving, and Lewis-Skelly will ultimately play more often in midfield. This may make the queue to play left-back shorter for Kiwior – adds Kamil SiaÅ‚kowski, member of the management board of Arsenal Poland Supporters Club, the only official Polish fan club of the “Gunners”.

Arteta values ​​Kiwior as a substitute

The Pole has no greater chance of competing with Saliba and Gabriel in the center of defense, which seems understandable. But it is also important that he feels good as a substitute who can always enter the pitch in a difficult situation. He doesn't complain about his position in the team. Moreover, Arteta really appreciates Kiwior as a special tasks man.

– If someone is not convinced that Arteta values ​​Kiwior in these specific circumstances, I recommend looking at the situations in which he used Kiwior in an emergency in various positions. He is used first from the bench in crisis or emergency situations, as needed. All of us, as Poles and fans, look at Kiwior's career from the perspective of the national team. There is a problem with players who would help him in the national team and everyone is looking for a transfer for him. For me, these are the TOP 3 players in the squad when it comes to technique and potential. Many of his mistakes at Arsenal were due to him not playing every week. Communication errors or positioning errors, when he was missing centimeters, resulted from the fact that he played little. But he is a very important player for Arteta. It has a technical and personality level. Not yet linguistic, but he's doing a great job here. He is a very necessary element in the entire squad, at the level of 16-17 players. Kiwior should be considered in this mode, SiaÅ‚kowski believes.

Even though Kiwior doesn't play much, it can't be said that he isn't developing. – Playing at such a level, at such a pace, under such pressure, with such opponents, he develops. I was at the Fulham – Arsenal match, I closely watched the warm-up and how Kiwior and Saliba practiced cooperation, mutual dependencies, and positioning. He didn't do the exercises very well, because he didn't predict the striker's movements correctly, Raul Jimenez passed him and Fulham took the lead after the first opportunity. Arsenal could only afford a draw. But even matches in which he makes mistakes provide room for development. Even everyday competition in training allows you to develop. Of course, nothing can replace regular play. However, I think that the mere presence in such a club and opportunities from time to time are a certain value – comments Przybysz.

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Will the transfer actually take place?

For a long time, Kiwior has been linked with Italian giants – Juventus, Inter, Milan and Napoli. It was mainly about renting. A French direction also appeared, and Olympique Marseille showed interest. The Italian media were sure that Kiwior was on his way out and the transfer would take place in the winter. But our experts are convinced that Arsenal will not let Kiwior go so easily. The Gunners are plagued by injuries this season, so a healthy and injury-resistant Kiwior is all the more needed. He is, in a way, a unique player in the London locker room.

– If he went to Italy, he would probably play 90 minutes in every match. Then he would be more confident, in rhythm. But at Arsenal he doesn't have to play a huge number of minutes, he has his own tasks. This team needs him. There is no question of any transfer at all. He has a left foot, which is a total asset. This is not a common skill for a defender. He is a very valuable player for Arteta. He knows that this team needs him at specific moments. If both parties understand it, it works great, says SiaÅ‚kowski.

– We can speculate whether Italy is the best destination. Probably the main one, although there was a lot of talk about Marseille's interest. They still remember Kiwiora there. I think this topic may come back in the summer. I would be very surprised if Arsenal decided to sell Kiwior now. His situation is not very comfortable among left-footed players. If Zinchenko, who is failing at Arsenal and plays poorly, leaves, I don't see any possibility for Kiwior to leave. Arteta won't let him, says Przybysz.

Kiwior at Arsenal and the issue of the Polish national team

Kiwior's lack of regular play may be worrying in the context of his appearances in the Polish national team. During MichaÅ‚ Probierz's term of office, keeping a clean sheet was a miracle, so defenders who play regularly are needed, they will be rhythmic and confident. But Kiwior doesn't have to worry about a place in the first team of our team. There are two things that influence this state of affairs – the lack of real competition in this position and the characteristics of Kiwior's game.

– Honestly, at the moment I don't see a player who would be a rival for Kiwior. It seemed that such someone could be MichaÅ‚ Gurgul from Lech PoznaÅ„, called up for the first time in the fall. But at the moment there is a shortage of left-footed center backs. Kiwior has no competition. You can see from Jan Bednarek's form that even playing regularly in a club that mainly defends itself and loses matches brings a lot. Kiwior's form is certainly a bigger mystery. But we have such little room for maneuver in basically every formation that Kiwior's lack of play is not a huge problem for the national team at the moment. Even if he gets a few games in the spring, it will be good – Przybysz analyzes for Sport.pl.

– There is no point in being offended by the fact that he will be Arteta's taskmaster. This is a situation stated directly. Kiwior's level is so high that he cannot be removed from the team lightly. All the fans would love for him to play. If he plays regularly, he will be the best player in this squad. But you have to take into account that he will have the role he has in London. As an Arsenal fan, I have no problem with his position in the team, both in the context of club and national team. I know this is his place, he is needed, broadly speaking. In the national team, he is still a player at such a level that even someone who does not play, but trains regularly in the team at a high level, is a choice for the starting eleven – sums up SiaÅ‚kowski.

Arsenal will play the next match on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The rival will be Aston Villa.



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