Mikel Arteta is a fan of adaptability. His good graces will be won over the moment you can play multiple roles.
The three most notable Arsenal players are Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber, and Ben White. Fans haven’t seen Timber at his best since he had a catastrophic knee injury on the first weekend of the season, but both players are capable of filling at least two defensive roles without the high standards at the Emirates lowering.
Another player who is thriving in his new role is Jakub Kiwior, who had trouble in it early in the campaign. Many predicted that the Poland international would replicate his horrific performance against the Reds in the FA Cup to begin 2024 when he came in for Oleksandr Zinchenko during halftime of the team’s 3-1 victory against Liverpool at the beginning of the month. In all competitions, Kiwior’s WhoScored.com rating was a pitiful 5.33, as Arsenal suffered their third straight loss.
As they got back together, Arteta’s side had the ideal opportunity to take their winter holiday. But, it was anticipated that Jurgen Klopp’s team would go after Zinchenko at the interval against Liverpool at the beginning of February in an attempt to build on Gabriel Magalhaes’ own goal in the first half.
But Kiwior didn’t back down, providing Leandro Trossard with a late assist to seal the victory and round off the scoring.
Kiwior hasn’t stepped on any toes since rejoining the starting lineup. The 24-year-old hasn’t looked out of place at left-back, which is a far cry from his performances in the position earlier in the campaign. However, players like William Saliba and Gabriel receive the most credit.
Kiwior has started six of his seven league games this season at left-back. Before the new year, his performances were, to put it mildly, lacklustre.
The Pole started the entire match in the 2-2 home tie against Fulham in August, played the entire 90 minutes in the final win at Luton, and was substituted midway through the second half on New Year’s Eve at Craven Cottage.
He didn’t know who he was when he came to these parts from Italy a little over a year ago, but he came in with a solid reputation. With the defender rumoured to be a January transfer to AC Milan, Arsenal could have easily cut their losses on Kiwior after just a year, but the team remained steadfast in their desire to keep him on staff. The choice might turn out to be a brilliant one.
It’s crucial to avoid getting ahead of ourselves, but there are even speculations that Arsenal won’t need Zinchenko once he returns to fitness given Kiwior’s recent performance. Different left-backs for various situations, and so on.
The quality of opponents has contributed to Kiwior’s dominance in the Premier League despite Zinchenko’s absence. A stronger, taller choice made more sense anyhow, as West Ham and Burnley were never going to be much of a threat to Arsenal given their recent run of bad luck, and the former, a more direct side, would have given the Gunners a more physical encounter.
However, it was instructive that Arsenal had a lot of trouble winning last week’s Champions League match against Porto without Zinchenko. The ball was in play for barely 51.7% of the game, indicating that the Portuguese team caused difficulties for their English rivals at the Dragao.
Zinchenko’s calibre at left back would have given Arsenal a stronger grip in the game and allowed them to advance play—a part of Kiwior’s style that is lacking. Kiwior received a WhoScored.com rating of merely 5.90 even though few Gunners players were able to bask in victory. He and his colleagues found it difficult to make an impression in a hostile environment against Porto, a team that has consistently advanced past the European competition’s group stages.
Zinchenko has a lot of experience, but he committed more fouls than any other player on the pitch with five, which suggests that he lacks expertise at this level.
All things considered, Kiwior’s change in luck has been remarkable. While injuries to Zinchenko, Timber, and Tomiyasu could have ended Arsenal’s title aspirations, Kiwior’s return to form as a reliable left-back option has allowed Arteta’s team to be in the running for trophies.
