‘Doesn’t play’… Porto boss thinks Mikel Arteta should be picking £20m Arsenal player more often

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Jakub Kiwior appears to be gathering momentum at Arsenal.

The Polish defender joined Arsenal for £20million in January of 2023 as the Gunners raided Italian club Spezia.

Kiwior was originally signed as cover and competition for Gabriel Magalhaes as Arsenal’s left-sided centre backs.

We are now seeing Kiwior impress as a left back though, looking increasingly confident in that role under Mikel Arteta.

Kiwior has started Arsenal’s last two Premier League games having come on at half-time against Liverpool.

Now primed to start against Porto in the Champions League this evening, Kiwior has been hailed by Arteta’s opposite number…

Porto boss loves Jakub Kiwior

Porto’s Sergio Conceicao has been speaking to the Portuguese press about Arsenal as he prepares for tonight’s huge game.

Arsenal head to Portugal seeking a positive first-leg result in the hope of making life easier for themselves back at the Emirates Stadium.

We would therefore expect few changes from Arteta, with a strong Arsenal side expected to start the game.

That includes Kiwior and Porto boss Conceicao has admitted his admiration for the Poland star.

Conceicao has marvelled at the strength of the Arsenal squad whilst speaking to Record, suggesting that they have ‘a lot of quality solutions’.

Conceicao highlighted Leandro Trossard as prime example before suggesting that Kiwior should be a starter for Arsenal but often doesn’t play.

The former Portugal international noted that Oleksandr Zinchenko is usually Arsenal’s first-choice left back and being able to bring in Kiwior sums up their quality.

“The squads are filled with different solutions. [Leandro] Trossard has played and scored goals, with Gabriel Jesus out. [Jakub] Kiwior, who for me is a starter, doesn’t play, Zinchenko plays, they change goalkeepers, that is. .. There is a lot of quality, there is a lot of quality solutions,” said Conceicao.

The difference in budget between Arsenal and Porto is astonishing, meaning the Gunners are able to assemble a squad with options like Kiwior.

We would expect the 24-year-old to start tonight and he will certainly hope to live up to Conceicao’s praise as Arsenal chase a victory.