Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Antonio Conte have butted heads in the past.
The Italian is the more experienced and accomplished of the two managers, but Arteta has a great record against Conte in the Premier League.
The Arsenal manager faced Conte’s Tottenham three times and won two of those games. We’re sure that would’ve hurt the 55-year-old.
Now, Arteta could inflict further pain on Conte in the January transfer window.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could ruin Antonio Conte’s Jakub Kiwior plan
Jakub Kiwior joined Arsenal from Spezia in January 2022.
The Pole is a solid defender and his versatility makes him a valuable option for Arteta. That is the reason why Arsenal decided against selling Kiwior in the summer.
The 24-year-old has been limited to just 374 minutes of football this season, and that has opened the door for other clubs to include him on their wish list.
Conte’s Napoli have been linked with Kiwior for a long time, and Sky Sports now claim that the Serie A side are keen to sign him in January.
However, the Partenopei cannot afford him on a permanent deal in the winter window, which makes a loan move the ideal option for them.
But, the report claims that Arteta ‘categorically refuses’ to let Kiwior leave on those terms in January – the Arsenal boss wants to keep hold of him until the summer.
Kiwior is open to a move back to the Serie A in January, but the only way that would be possible is if his entourage can convince Arsenal to let him go.
The one reason why Arteta wants to keep Kiwior in January
Kiwior is by no means a regular at Arsenal – he has played just 10 times this season, eight of which have come as a substitute.
The Pole is definitely good enough to be a starter at many other clubs, but at Arsenal, he has Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba ahead of him at centre-half and Riccardo Calafiori at left-back.
That makes it clear that he will not get a lot of game time, but Arteta is still adamant that he wants to keep Kiwior in January instead of cashing in on him.
TMW claim that the Arsenal manager views Kiwior as the first backup for Gabriel in case something happens to him in the coming months.
That’s why no moves for Kiwior will be entertained, and we think that is the right decision.
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