‘Unbelievable’ player told he made ‘big mistake’ staying at Arsenal after listening to Mikel Arteta

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There was a fair bit of movement at Arsenal during the summer transfer window.

The Gunners first turned David Raya’s loan into a permanent deal after his successful spell in the 2023/24 season. Then, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino were brought in.

Finally, on transfer deadline day, Arsenal signed Neto and Raheem Sterling on season-long loan deals.

In terms of outgoings, Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah were sold, while the likes of Albert Sambi Lokonga, Nuno Tavares and Fabio Vieira all secured loan moves away.

One player, however, didn’t leave even though he was heavily linked with a move away from the club.

Jakub Kiwior told he made a ‘mistake’ staying at Arsenal

Jakub Kiwior was viewed by many Arsenal fans as a player who was guaranteed to depart in the summer.

The ‘unbelievable‘ Pole was already nowhere near the top of Mikel Arteta’s pecking order, and his role is now expected to be even more reduced following the arrival of Calafiori.

That’s why he was expected to leave, but Arteta spoke to Kiwior and convinced him to stay at Arsenal beyond transfer deadline day (TBR Football).

Now, former Poland international Marek Kozminski has delivered his verdict on Kiwior staying at Arsenal this summer.

The 53-year-old believes the Poland defender made a ‘big mistake’ by not leaving the Emirates because his lack of game time at club level is affecting his performances for his country.

He told Futbol.pl: “Perhaps he made a big mistake, because he had the opportunity to leave the English team in the summer transfer window.

“Of course, his form in the club will strongly affect the form in the Polish national team.”

Why did Kiwior stay at Arsenal instead of leaving?

Kiwior has perhaps taken a big risk by staying at Arsenal because he is extremely unlikely to get any significant game time from now until the end of the season.

The Pole has Jurrien Timber, Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and even Takehiro Tomiyasu ahead of him at left-back, while Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are both irreplaceable in the heart of the defence.

If you’re still wondering why Kiwior stayed, it’s because of Arteta.

Arsenal Insider were exclusively told by Graeme Bailey that ‘Arteta rates Kiwior very highly, which is part of the reason he stayed‘.

However, Kiwior has interest from a host of clubs, including Chelsea and Aston Villa, and there is a big chance he will leave the Emirates in one of the two windows in 2025.