Poland legend Jerzy Dudek has expressed his concerns about Jakub Kiwior’s Arsenal switch with the £20 million January signing facing a battle to establish himself at the Premier League giants.
If you needed a reminder about the cut-throat nature of football coverage, look no further.
Former Spezia stopper Jakub Kiwior had actually proven himself to be a more-than assured replacement for the much-missed William Saliba under Mikel Arteta, impressing out of position in a right-sided role.
That was until, however, Julio Enciso headed home unmarked; Arsenal’s fading title hopes going up in smoke at home to Brighton and Hove Albion. The fact that Kiwior had possibly been fouled in the build-up – his ankle clipped seconds before Enciso converted – went largely unnoticed by his critics.
A classic case of ‘don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story’.
Is Jakub Kiwior set to push on at Arsenal?
Dudek’s concerns, meanwhile, are not about Kiwior’s talent or his suitability. But instead whether Arsenal can offer the 23-year-old the first-team football he needs if he’s to realise his vast potential.
“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,” the former Liverpool and Real Madrid goalkeeper tells The 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.”
Kiwior, who caught the eye at the Qatar World Cup, has started just three Premier League games so far under Mikel Arteta. All of those have come during Saliba’s injury-enforced absence.
As impressive as he might have been at times, the one-time West Ham target is still likely to find himself on the outside looking in when Arteta’s first-choice backline is fit and available.
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