Martin Keown has picked out Jakub Kiwior for praise and admits the Arsenal defender has ‘really surprised’ him ahead of the side’s Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain.
Kiwior, 25, largely a peripheral figure since joining Arsenal from Spezia Calcio in 2023, has come to the fore in recent weeks following a season-ending injury to first-choice centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arteta has put his faith in Kiwior for the Gunners’ last six matches in all competitions and the Poland international has not looked misplaced next to William Saliba at the center of the defence.
Considered one of the six Arsenal players to be on the sphere for each minute of Arsenal’s famous two-legged victory over Real Madrid, Kiwior is widely expected to proceed his run within the side at home to PSG this evening.
It represents quite some turnaround for a player who reportedly got here near leaving the north London outfit seeking regular minutes within the January transfer window.
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Previewing the semi-final for talkSPORT, ex-Arsenal centre-half Keown gave special mention to Kiwior and argued that the Pole’s performance alongside Saliba could prove ‘key’ versus the French champions.
‘There are going to be a number of battles all around the pitch,’ Keown said.
‘Kiwior has really surprised me with how well he’s played.
‘He’s handled the occasions well in each games against Real Madrid and him and Saliba at the moment are forming a pleasant little partnership.
‘That’s really key to how well Arsenal do.
‘[Jurrien] Timber has got that mobility and that’s going to be an incredible match up with [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia, whether he has the power do give you the option to cope with it.’
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Keown has been impressed the intensity PSG have displayed off the ball this season and feels Luis Enrique had landed on a ‘really good mix’ of players from defence throughout to attack.
Nonetheless, the three-time Premier League winner believes PSG captain Marquinhos is a player Arsenal could look to show.
‘I’ve been watching PSG, getting my head around what they do, with [Achraf] Hakimi getting down the right-hand side,’ Keown added.
‘But the best way they work off the ball… Arsenal played them and beat them earlier within the season with the brand new format. [Ousmane] Dembele didn’t play, Kvaratskhelia wasn’t even there they usually’re now a unique outfit.
‘Vitinha sits deep of their midfield. When he was at Wolves he was playing as a No.10 and now he sits really deep and he finds the passes to select the front three.
‘There’s a extremely good mix. They’re strong within the full-back positions, Nuno Mendes is rapid. Marquinhos might just be someone we get at.
‘I used to be interested to see the best way Villa managed to get bodies in front of that back 4, back three, with Hakimi pushing forward. Arsenal will look to take advantage of that.’
Arsenal will probably be without the suspended Thomas Partey for his or her first leg with PSG, which Keown fears could prove a ‘big blow’.
‘It’s interesting to see what Arsenal will do within the midfield because Partey is suspended. That was a giant blow,’ he continued.
‘Declan Rice, man of the match in each games, can have to have one other one in all those games over the 2 legs.
‘It’ll be interesting with [Myles] Lewis-Skelly, he shows no fear. But on his flank, Hakimi will probably be running down that line they usually’ve got good movement in that area.’
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