Mikel Arteta must do one big thing as £20m Arsenal outcast pushes for January exit

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Mikel Arteta cannot afford to let Jakub Kiwior leave Arsenal this month. 

Jakub Kiwior is unsettled at Arsenal. 

According to the latest reports, Kiwior is currently pushing for a move away from Arsenal in the January transfer window, though Mikel Arteta is not willing to let the Polish defender leave the Emirates Stadium at this time. 

Kiwior is not a key player for the Gunners. He could be regarded as something of an outcast figure, as he has managed just 9 Premier League appearances so far this season, of which just 4 have come as part of the starting XI.

The north London club shelled out £20 million to prise the 23-year-old away from Italian outfit Spezia last January. The 19-cap Poland international has failed to break into the regular starting XI since then, though. As a centre-back, he is firmly behind both William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in the pecking order. Whilst he has been handed some game time as a makeshift left-back, he is clearly not entirely comfortable in that part of the pitch.

It is understandable why Kiwior may wish to leave Arsenal now in pursuit of more regular game time elsewhere. He is clearly a decent player who would be a regular starter for many top clubs around Europe. In truth, though, it is hard to accurately assess the player’s absolute quality and potential, as he has been given such little game time in his preferred position at Arsenal.

Why Mikel Arteta cannot let Jakub Kiwior leave Arsenal

Arteta has been warned that Kiwior is unhappy with being deployed at left-back so often, but the manager has had little choice in the matter.

It is for that reason that the Spanish coach simply cannot sanction Kiwior’s departure at this time. Jurrien Timber is currently out with a long-term injury, Takehiro Tomiyasu has had his own fitness issues and is currently away competing at the Asia Cup with Japan, and Oleksandr Zinchenko also has a patchy injury record.

Kiwior is needed to provide cover at both left-back and in the heart of the defence, as part of a depleted defensive unit. This will still be the case even if the Gunners are successful in their quest to bring in another left-back this month. Arsenal have been linked with Leonardo Spinazzola, as the Roma defender is thought to be available in a cut-price deal this month due to his current contract situation.

Arteta must hold firm and not cave to Kiwior’s demands.