Arsenal fans were left wondering where Jakub Kiwior has been during the run-in with the defender hugely impressing against Newcastle.
Kiwior overcame an early penalty scare to put on a strong showing in a 2-0 win at St. James’ Park, helping the Gunners record back-to-back wins and keep their fading Premier League title hopes alive.
Signed in the January transfer window from Italian side Spezia in a £21million deal, the Poland international joined an Arsenal side that had their back five set in stone.
However, that all came crashing down on March 16 when star defender William Saliba was taken out with a long-term injury, and seemed irreplaceable.
His absence was shown even more when the Gunners went on a four-game winless run in April, losing ground to Manchester City and surrendering their title advantage.
Now though, they’ve bagged back-to-back statement wins, which may be with the help of one key change.
Kiwior has slotted in at the back alongside Gabriel Magalhaes, and Arsenal fans are wondering why the decision wasn’t made sooner.
Since his move to the Emirates in January, the 23-year-old has played only five out of a possible 16 games for Mikel Arteta, playing his first 90 minutes in a 3-1 win over Chelsea on Tuesday, and now against Newcastle.
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Arteta’s preferred starter for the four-game winless run was Rob Holding, and it’s fair to say some supporters are now questioning that call.
One Gunners fan wrote on Twitter: “We had Kiwior available this whole time while we were starting Holding…”
Another added: “Kiwior was rotting on the bench at the Etihad and against West Ham/ Southampton….”
A third went even further saying: “If Kiwior had started a few more games, we’d still be top of the league.”
