Having arrived at Arsenal from Spezia last January, Jakub Kiwior hasn’t managed to have a prominent role at the Premier League side.
The Poland international has made 21 appearances in all competitions, which includes just eight league starts.
Polstat Sport TV journalist Marcin Lepa has been speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb and he claims the 23-year-old wasn’t ready to make a big jump from the Serie A side to Arsenal.
“The leap between Spezia and Arsenal was too big and perhaps Kuba needed some time. He joined a team that was fighting for the title, they were first, it was difficult to come in and find a place straight away,” he said.
“At Spezia he played several matches but didn’t gain too much experience. Then it’s clear, from the economic point of view it was an important transfer but for his growth… A step for which he wasn’t yet ready.”
The centre-back has clocked in 539 minutes of action from 13 matches this season and majority of these appearances came off the bench.
Kiwior hasn’t yet managed to cement a place at the Emirates and the Polish journalist is of the belief he should have considered an intermediate step before joining Arsenal.
According to the journalist, Kiwior is the only centre-back to have his place secured in the national team. He has urged the defender to leave the Gunners in the winter market, in order to help Poland.
“[Jan] Bednarek has not been reliable to become a leader, since June 2022 then Kiwior has become an anchor of the defines, whether it is a [back] three or four,” the journalist added.
“He’s joined by one or two central defenders. So, we are changing several central-backs but the only real strong point is Kiwior himself, so much so that he has also played as a left back in the back four thanks to his versatility.”
“For us he is among the best talents in Poland but his lack of pace is a problem: he has made several mistakes, I think because he doesn’t play at Arsenal.”
“For us it would be important for him to change teams, to find space and playing time, to then demonstrate that he is also a charismatic leader.”
The defender’s situation at the north London club has seen him get linked with a move to AC Milan and Napoli in recent weeks. Mikel Arteta’s side apparently have no intention to let go of him in the winter market.
Lepa says the player has to leave Arsenal for a club who can assure him more game time but isn’t sure if Milan are the right option for him next month.
