Jakub Kiwior could get surprise opportunities at Arsenal in the coming months.
The Poland international, who joined the Gunners from Spezia in January 2023, has always been a backup under Mikel Arteta.
He has played 56 times for Arsenal in all competitions over the last two-and-a-bit years, and just 34 of those games have come from the start.
Now, with Gabriel Magalhaes ruled out until next season, Kiwior is in line to get more game time.
What Arsenal and Mikel Arteta privately think about Jakub Kiwior
Arsenal agreed to a £21 million deal to sign Kiwior back in January 2023.
The Pole was one of the standout performers at Spezia in his final six months there, and the Gunners accelerated their summer plans to sign him in the winter window.
Arteta clearly saw something in Kiwior that convinced him that he could make it at the top level, and the versatile defender has shown flashes of his quality.
Yet, Arsenal fans are worried about seeing Kiwior start against Real Madrid in the first leg of the quarter-final on Tuesday.
Within the club, however, there is complete faith in Kiwior, so much so that the Gunners don’t even want to lose him this summer.
That’s according to TBR Football’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey, who exclusively told Arsenal Insider: “In terms of Kiwior, Arsenal have always liked him, they like him an awful lot.
“We fully expect him to leave this summer, but while that is Arsenal’s call, they really don’t want to let him go. If they could keep him, they would, but he’s almost too good to be a backup and the player has made it abundantly clear he wants to move.
“He could’ve gone last two windows and probably will this window with a profit. They love him as a player, trust him fully and they trust the squad.”
READ MORE: What Mikel Arteta has said about Jakub Kiwior starting vs Real Madrid after Gabriel’s injury
The one reason why Kiwior can prove people wrong against Real Madrid
The concern about Kiwior starting against Real Madrid is justified.
Gabriel is one of the best centre-halves in world football, and filling his shoes is a massive ask for even the most experienced defenders.
Many fans’ opinion of Kiwior comes from the mistakes he has previously made when he was asked to play either as a left-back or on the right side of central defence.
With Gabriel out, Kiwior, if he starts against Real Madrid, will play as a left centre-back, which is his natural position and where he’s most comfortable.
That should help him perform at his highest level and shut many of his critics up.
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