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Opinion
Mikel Arteta has just explained why Arsenal can’t sell Jakub Kiwior this summer
Jakub Kiwior has been brought in from the cold at Arsenal owing to Gabriel Magalhaes’ season-ending injury.
Prior to Gabriel’s hamstring giving way, Kiwior was a seldom spotted figure for Arsenal, one who only seemed to appear on Carabao 💟Cup nights.
Both Mikel Arteta and Edu were incredibly complimentary about the Poland inter🎐national when he signed in 2023, a player who was intended to improve squad depth.
And in fairness, Kiwior hဣas done exactly that — Arsenal have a credible alternative to Gabriel and the Brazilian’s absence hasn’t been a crisis in recent weeks.
However, owing to his position throughout the season, Kiwior still wants to leave Arsenal — he recognises that his 💮run of starts will halಌt once Gabriel returns to fitness.
Jakub Kiwior is ready to leave Arsenal
🧜That being said, Arteta has perhaps just explained why Arsenal need to do everything they can to convince Kiwior to change his mind this summer.
The Arsenal manager was speaking at his press conference aheaꦺd of their second leg against Paris Saint-Germain i𒁃n the Champions League and described Kiwior’s recent efforts as ‘exceptional’.
READ MORE: £68m striker admits he could leave his cl🌳ub thꦍis summer after holding talks with Arsenal
Arteta praised the 25-year-old’s ability to step𒁃 into the team and perform at the highest level at the drop of a hat, one of the reasons the club must be keen to retain his services.
Praising Kiwior, Arteta said: “Well, again, he deserves a lot of credit because he hasn’t played t🍌oo much throughout many months.
“Suddenly he’s been thrown into 🐲the most difficult context, at the highest level, playing against the best opponents, when you haveဣn’t had the physical rhythm or the confidence to do it, and I think he’s been exceptional.”
Mikel Arteta needs to change his rotation policy
It’s a difficult challenge to keep squad players like Kiwior incentivised even though they are not always first choice, but perhaps A🐼rsenal aren’t getting it quite right.
When you compare how often Pep Guardiola 💜rotates his Manchester City team to keep the likes of Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake a𝕴nd Josko Gvardiol all happy, it’s night and day.
Arteta needs to trust hiಞs extended squad to step in more often if the Gunners are going to avoid refreshing their fringe players every summer.
It’s a bizarre thing to say given how brilliant he’s been for Arteta in recent years, but even Ben White might become frustrated at Arsenal if he’s not starting regularly next season.
Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly appear to be Arteta’s strongest full-backs right now, but the li♔kes of Riccardo Calafiori and White will still need their chances.
A difficul🌠t one for Arteta to balance, and area in which he can still improve, at least from the outside looking in.