Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta blocked a loan move to La Liga outfit Sevilla for Jakub Kiwior over the summer with the Poland international still fighting for his place at the Premier League challengers.
That is according to Polish reporter Mateusz Borek, the Arsenal boss quick to rule out an early Emirates exit for a man who arrived in North London for a cool £20 million just a few months earlier.
Jakub Kiwior, who joined from Serie A outfit Spezia in January, has started only seven Premier League games under Mikel Arteta. Gabriel Magalhaes still firmly established as the Spaniard’s first-choice for the left-sided centre-back role.
But while Kiwior should continue to find regular opportunities hard to come by – despite a start in Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United – Arteta was in no mood to let the 23-year-old leave on loan over the summer. Kiwior is, after all, a potentially important member of an Arsenal squad previously lacking in defensive depth.
Arsenal decide to keep Jakub Kiwior
“We haven’t talked about it publicly, but some time has passed,” Borek now tells TVP Sport. “The topic is no longer hot and, in hindsight, no one will be offended if we reveal the name of the club.
“Sevilla really wanted to sign Kiwior on loan in the last transfer window. The club was supposed to fight until the end (to get him), but it was not enough to convince the Arsenal coach.
“Arteta said ‘no’ to Sevilla. That’s why Kiwior stayed at Arsenal.”
The former MSK Zilina man and one-time West Ham United target impressed during the Qatar World Cup nearly a year ago, with ex-Poland international Jerzy Dudek hoping that further opportunities come his way at club level.
Only two Premier League starts this season
“In the last few years, we’ve had many players in Serie A. That was a big surprise. Now it seems like we are getting more players to the Premier League, which is a very demanding division,” Dudek, a 2005 Champions League winner, told The Liverpool Echo.
“I hope (Kwior) gets more chances. It is nice to sign for the big club. But, at the end of the day, you need to play. He is a great player, still young, and very important to the national team.”
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