It was not the easiest of starts to life at Arsenal for Jakub Kiwior. Having started every game for Spezia before his £20million move to north London, the Polish international would have to wait until March for his first start in an Arsenal shirt. Even then it would be May before he got his next one as he struggled to really make an imprint on the side.
A decent run in the team towards the end of last season proved the 24-year-old's competence at the back, with a superb display in the 2-0 win at Newcastle being a highlight. But as this campaign began, he found himself once again reduced to a bit part role.
Now though, Kiwior is on a run of four starts in the Arsenal side that have coincided with the Gunners establishing themselves as one of the best defensive side's in the Premier League. Since the winter break, Mikel Arteta's men have allowed just 1..88xG. The next highest in the division are Manchester City with 6.77.
Kiwior has also been contributing at the other end of the pitch with a goal in the 4-1 win over Newcastle and an assist in the 5-0 win at Burnley. This run in his unfavoured left back position has seen him draw plenty of plaudits, and speaking to the press ahead of Monday's clash with Sheffield United, Arteta was keen to pile on the praise.
«We made a decision to bring him in earlier, because we believed that whichever player we were going to sign to have the role that he had to have was going to need time, and that was the case,» the Spaniard said of Kiwior's adaptation to life in England.
Mikel Arteta provides Arsenal fitness update on Partey, Tomiyasu, Timber and Zinchenko
Jorginho set for new Arsenal contract talks as Edu and Mikel Arteta summer plan clear
«And we have made it difficult for him for two
Read on football.london