Mikael Silvestre Backs Jakub Kiwior for Arsenal Starting Spot

Former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre believes Jakub Kiwior can challenge Gabriel for his regular place in the Gunners’ starting XI after the 23-year-old’s impressive recent performances. Kiwior arrived from Spezia in January and has had to be patient in waiting for his first team chances, but now they have come thanks to injury. With William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu sidelined, Kiwior has been drafted in at centre-back, playing alongside Gabriel in the heart of defence in recent wins over Chelsea and Newcastle. Silvestre, who had two seasons at Arsenal from 2008-10, has been impressed with the Poland international and feels his recent partner will eventually be his rival for a place in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI. He said: ‘I think Jakub Kiwior has ability. Kiwior deserves credit because coming into the end of the season when everything is at stake and you haven’t had much game time, it’s harder than we think. Well done Kiwior. If there was one player he should be challenging for a starting spot, it’s Gabriel Magalhães. I think Saliba, when he’s on form, it’s almost a given that he would start for Arsenal whenever he comes back from injury.’ Arteta has talked up Kiwior’s potential, saying he has been delighted with his progress since arriving from Italy. He said: ‘He’s been getting better and better every single day, not only in training but his interaction and his language. He’s more settled and he’s a player that I really like, that’s why I signed him. He has the potential at his age to be great and he had a big task against the players he had to face today, and I think he did really well.’ Former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre believes Jakub Kiwior can challenge Gabriel Magalhães for his regular place in the Gunners’ starting XI after the 23-year-old’s impressive recent performances since being brought into the first team. Kiwior arrived from Spezia in January and has had to be patient in waiting for his first team chances, but now they have come thanks to injury with William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu sidelined. Silvestre, who had two seasons at Arsenal from 2008-10, has been impressed with the Poland international and feels his recent partner will eventually be his rival for a place in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI. He said: ‘I think Jakub Kiwior has ability. Kiwior deserves credit because coming into the end of the season when everything is at stake and you haven’t had much game time, it’s harder than we think. Well done Kiwior. If there was one player he should be challenging for a starting spot, it’s Gabriel Magalhães. I think Saliba, when he’s on form, it’s almost a given that he would start for Arsenal whenever he comes back from injury.’ Arteta has also talked up Kiwior’s potential, saying he has been delighted with his progress since arriving from Italy. He said: ‘He’s been getting better and better every single day, not only in training but his interaction and his language. He’s more settled and he’s a player that I really like, that’s why I signed him. He has the potential at his age to be great and he had a big task against the players he had to face today, and I think he did really well.’ With Saliba set to return when he recovers from a troublesome back problem, Silvestre reckons Kiwior has enough about him to partner the Frenchman at the back and challenge Gabriel for a place in Mikel Arteta’s starting XI.