Arsenal have faced a dilemma when it comes to the future of Jakub Kiwior heading into the summer transfer window.
The Gunners have a wealth of options in the backline, from Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba at centre-back to the likes of Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly at full-back.
Even beyond those stars are players more than capable of pushing into the first team, including Jakub Kiwior.
The Poland international has faced something of an uncertain future, following a lack of game time at Arsenal.
Kiwior has been linked with a transfer to the Serie A, with plenty of parties interested in making a return possible.
However, there appears to be a slight twist in the tale for the 25-year-old.
Jakub Kiwior now expected to stay at Arsenal this summer transfer window
While there have been links with an exit for Jakub Kiwior, with Arsenal said to be open to accepting a move away, things may have changed.
That’s because, according to the Daily Mail, the defender is now expected to stay at the club beyond the summer transfer window.
It’s claimed that Kiwior’s performances when replacing the injured Gabriel Magalhaes have forced a rethink.
Instead, it now seems that Arsenal want to keep him, a slight U-turn on previous thoughts that he could well leave.
It comes as a boost to Andrea Berta that he may not need to dip into the market for another defender now, following years of signing players for the backline.
For Kiwior, it means another battle to prove himself among Arsenal’s best in a backline that is the envy of most Premier League teams.
Jakub Kiwior has proven himself at Arsenal this season
If there’s one player who perhaps caught fans off guard this season, it was Kiwior and the performances he put in at the end of the season.
While the early parts of the campaign saw some struggles, such as Kiwior’s display against Crystal Palace, his introduction in the team brought about some impressive performances when they needed it most.
Plenty of last-ditch defending came about for the Poland international, which caught some of the Emirates Stadium faithful by surprise.
David Raya wasn’t surprised by Kiwior, though, believing that he always had that level of quality within him.
It remains to be seen whether he will get a chance to show that again next season, but it seems likely that a stay at Arsenal is now on the cards.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
