Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal prospect Jakub Kiwior is "getting better every day" after seeing his faith rewarded by starting him against Chelsea.
Kiwior, 23, made his full Premier League debut on Tuesday as the Gunners ran out comfortable 3-1 winners in a one-sided London derby. The Polish defender, making only his second start after Arsenal paid £21million for him in the January transfer window, impressed while playing alongside fellow left-footer Gabriel, who went off injured to add to Arteta's injury woes at centre-back.
Fortunately for the Gunners boss, Kiwior showed signs that he's able to step up if Gabriel is forced to miss a run of games sitting the sidelines, just as William Saliba has been doing for the last seven. "He looked ready, he looked fresh. He looked really determined, he's been getting better and better every single day," Arteta beamed post-match when asked about the Poland international's display.
"Not only training but his interaction, his language, he is more settled and is a player that I really like which is why we signed him. He's got the potential at his age to be great and I think he had a big task against the players he had to face today and I think he did really well."
The Arsenal manager, who dropped Rob Holding after his struggles against title rivals Manchester City last week, added: "Yes [I was pleased], especially with Jakub, it was a big task for him he hasn't played in the Premier League yet and to throw him in against top class players was a big ask. But we believe he is ready and his partnership with Gabi worked out really well."
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Since leaving Italian side Spezia in January, Kiwior has had to be patient for opportunities in the Gunners' first team. The 23-year-old's only other start came in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 clash away to Sporting Lisbon, where he endured a shaky 71 minutes before being subbed off.
A pair of cameo appearances in the Premier League followed - either side of two full games for Poland in Euro 2024 qualification - but now it seems that Arteta is much more trusting. Upon learning that Kiwior had replaced Holding in the starting line-up, ex-Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas hailed his potential and gave an insight into the defender's progression on the training ground.
"It's a good call to have because apparently from what I heard the boy is working really hard and training really well," Fabregas told Sky Sports. "He's very fast and he's young. You also need him for next year, like Saliba when he went on loan, so now he needs games to know the players, to get to know each other, and I'm sure he will be an important player for the club."
Should Gabriel be ruled out of Sunday's trip to Newcastle due to his foot injury, the Gunners may have to rely on Holding and Kiwior to face the Premier League's most in-form attack. With Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu also out injured since mid-March, Arteta has limited options.
He's understandably desperate for Saliba to make a speedy recovery, but the Frenchman is at risk of causing further damage to his back if he rushes his return. Asked whether Saliba would be fit for the journey to St James' Park, Arteta replied with a smile: "I don't know."
