Gunners defender branded ‘not Arsenal’ by club legend in brutal assessment
'He's not as good...'
Club legend Paul Merson has branded Jakub Kiwior as ‘alright, but not Arsenal’ in a damning assessment of the defender.
The 25-year-old has never been a regular in Mikel Arteta’s team since arriving from Spezia in 2023, but has now been thrust into the limelight.
With the likes of Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu all out injured, Kiwior was handed just his third Premier League start of the season in the 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday.
The Poland international played well at Goodison Park, but he may now be given a much more difficult task as Arsenal prepare to take on Real Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Arteta does have some options at the back, despite the injuries, but Kiwior could again start in central defence and that worries Merson.
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Real Madrid’s fearsome front line of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo would cause problems for any defence and Merson is not sure Kiwior is up to the task.
‘It’s a big ask for Jakub Kiwior, if he is the one to start,’ Merson told Sky Sports. ‘Jurrien Timber has only played at centre-back once or twice, while Ben White has been out a long time.
‘You’re asking someone who hardly plays – because he’s not as good as the other two – to come into a Champions League quarter-final. Kiwior is alright, but he’s not Arsenal.
‘And you’re asking Kiwior to mark him. Kylian Mbappe, the best in the world or at least in the top three alongside Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
‘He plays on the shoulder and if he gets through, I just don’t see anybody catching him. And I think that’s the worry for me with Arsenal. They will have to win this football match and they have to chase it at times. That’s where it’s dangerous.’
Kiwior has actually played more regularly in the Champions League this season than the Premier League, making four starts and six appearances in total in Europe.
The Gunners have done perfectly well in the six European games he has played, winning five of them and drawing one.
It may not be the Pole that starts alongside William Saliba at centre-back, with Ben White able to move into that position, Jurrien Timber go to right-back and Myles Lewis-Skelly on the left.
Arteta was tight-lipped on what his plans are when he spoke at the pre-match press conference on Monday.
Asked if he had decided on his central defenders for Tuesday night’s clash with Real Madrid, he said: ‘Yes, I’ve decided.’
Quizzed on whether he would reveal that decision, he said: ‘No.’
One player who is expected to start in north London against the Spanish giants is Bukayo Saka after making two substitute appearances following his return from a hamstring injury.
‘He’s in a much better place,’ said Arteta of the winger. ‘Gradually we have built his minutes in the last six or seven days. He’s coped with that really well and he’s in a good place to be able to be used.’
