Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta surprised the Emirates Stadium with his selection against Chelsea. Rob Holding, who had started in place of the injured William Saliba was dropped for the match, and Jakub Kiwior was selected in his place.
The Poland international who arrived from Spezia for a significant transfer fee in the January transfer window has had very few opportunities to show his worth. He started and struggled at Sporting CP in the Europa League and came on at Anfield and watched as Liverpool scored a painful equaliser.
This match against Chelsea was his first Premier League start. In a dedicated report, football.london observed how the young centre-half faired against his west London opponents.
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The first half was a period where when looking analytically at a defender it is a nightmare. Arsenal controlled the ball and Chelsea rarely threatened, and yet there were moments the Poland international had which demonstrated his strengths and weaknesses.
In the very first minute he lost out in a duel to Aubameyang and this persisted through the half, when under pressure. Besides one brilliant moment in the 38th minute, where the young defender anticipated a long ball to the former Arsenal striker and headed it into space for Jorginho to mop up.
Anticipation is perhaps the word for Kiwior throughout the first half. A run from Raheem Sterling after Ben White was beaten was read fantastically by the 23-year-old, taking control of the ball from the England international and feeding Gabriel Magalhães.
He displayed his comfortability with his right foot with a number of lateral passes to his centre-half partner. Considering he was playing on the right side, an area he was not signed having vast experience in the role, he never looked uncomfortable using his “weaker” foot.
In the second half this continued and again Sterling was the key opponent. Chelsea wanted to start the half swiftly but Kiwior’s strong block in the box to prevent his adversary from advancing stunted the Blues’ momentum.
A chaotic Chelsea counterattack in the second half saw a pinball moment in the box and it eventually fell to Kiwior who was able to control and allow Aaron Ramsdale to collect. A high-pressure moment again dealt with well.
After Gabriel came off for Rob Holding, Kiwior switched to the left side of central defence and continued to sustain his calm demeanour and composed display.
Overall, Kiwior showed that Arteta can count on him when needed in these big games. For the next one? Perhaps, it is a big ask away at Newcastle United but there will not be a shortage of Arsenal supporters calling for the new man to play over Holding.
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