‘He’s not comfortable’… Pundit thinks Mikel Arteta is using £20m Arsenal player completely incorrectly

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Robbie Mustoe has claimed that Arsenal don’t really have a clear idea on how to use Jakub Kiwior after the defender’s performance on Sunday.

The Polish international started the game against Fulham in the left-back position, something Mikel Arteta has done regularly with Kiwior since the defence signed for the Gunners last year for £20m.

Yet the former Spezia man often drifted into midfield and looked uncomfortable in the role, with Kiwior yet to really find his best role yet in Arsenal’s starting XI.

And speaking on The 2 Robbies Podcast, Mustoe was critical of how Kiwior was used at Craven Cottage, a performance that many thought was Arsenal’s worst in 2023.

Indeed, it’s clear that Arteta is yet to find Kiwior’s best position and role at Arsenal, and the defender’s performance against Fulham highlighted just that problem.

Mustoe said: “You’ve got Kiwior, who goes into midfield from left-back, he goes in to make another midfield player, he’s not comfortable in there.”

Arsenal have to find what’s best for Jakub Kiwior this year

Kiwior is clearly a talented player who was signed by Arsenal for a reason, with the Polish international showing in numerous matches the technical qualities he possesses.

Yet it’s clear that there’s no real set role for Kiwior in the Arsenal squad, and Arteta needs to discover this in 2024, just the one year after the defender arrived in north London.

Left-back has been Kiwior’s preferred position, yet it’s obvious that operating in the Oleksandr Zinchenko role isn’t suited to the Pole’s game.

And as a result, Arteta needs to start from this as a jumping-off point to build out Kiwior’s role, which could become something of a specialised position for Arsenal.