Arsenal star may be finished under Mikel Arteta as ‘tough’ January transfer decision looms

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Arsenal could be set for a crucial January transfer window when it comes to the shaping and reshaping of the entire squad for the rest of the season.

The Gunners are off the pace in the Premier League title race, sitting nine points behind league leaders Liverpool and with plenty of dilemmas for Mikel Arteta to ponder.

The Arsenal boss will need to get the maximum out of his squad to ensure they pick up plenty of points while progressing in their cup competitions too.

Given the busy fixture schedule, that won’t be easy, though there is a chance that the January transfer window changes all of that.

With a view to bringing some potential big names in, there are also opportunities for squad players to leave Arsenal in the coming months.

• READ MORE: Mikel Arteta faces another Arsenal injury crisis with seven fresh issues including Leandro Trossard

Jakub Kiwior could be set for Arsenal transfer exit in January

One star who faces an uncertain future is defender Jakub Kiwior, who has struggled for minutes so far this campaign.

The Poland international has hardly featured for Arsenal, even with plenty of injuries, given the squad depth at the club.

The return of Jurrien Timber to the fold alongside the signing of Riccardo Calafiori has only bolstered the options available to the manager.

As a result, Kiwior is struggling for game time and could be set for an exit over the January transfer window, following links with a move in the summer.

Writing on the Daily Briefing, journalist Charles Watts shared an update on the situation, stating: “With the January window fast approaching, I think we’re going to see plenty of stories linking Jakub Kiwior with a return to Italy.

“It’s been a familiar theme during the last couple of windows and I’m expecting no different this time around. There was a chance Kiwior could have gone in the summer, but Arsenal decided to keep him for squad purposes.

“But when you see the game time he’s had so far this season and consider that teenage Myles Lewis-Skelly has been used ahead of him at times recently then it’s tough to see the Poland international getting many minutes.

“So if a decent offer arrives for Kiwior from Italy then I think it’s one that Arsenal would consider and I don’t think Ben White’s injury will impact their thinking.”

It remains to be seen what sort of offer could tempt the Gunners into a potential sale, given that Kiwior was linked with a transfer exit in the summer.

However, any move would naturally have to work for all parties, especially for Arsenal if the injury issues get worse.

• READ MORE: Exactly what Martin Odegaard did with Arsenal doctors to blow Mikel Arteta away on injury return

Jakub Kiwior’s 2023/24 and 2024/25 stats compared

Looking at the statistics, it’s clear to see the drop off in influence that Kiwior has had with the changes in the defence.

Last campaign, the Polish international made 30 appearances across all competitions with a decent smattering of starts in there as well.

However, so far there have only been seven appearances for the defender with only two of those being a start.

Given some of the impressive traits Kiwior has shown in his cameos, there is plenty of potential for him to impress at the top level.

However, it seems less and less likely that it will be with Arsenal and rather with another club as he enters the peak years of his career.