Arsenal legend Ian Wright believes Mikel Arteta is ‘done’ with Jakub Kiwior, suggesting the manager no longer trusts the defender.
Kiwior has failed to make it off the bench in Arsenal’s last seven Premier League games and has been an unused substitute for the Gunners.
The north Londoners spent £20m to sign the Poland international from Italian club Spezia in January 2023 and he’s under contract until 2028.
But Kiwior’s future at the Emirates is now looking bleak, according to Wright, given his lack of recent playing time in the Premier League.
Speaking after Kiwior, who can be used as a centre-back or a left-back, did not feature in Arsenal’s last top-flight clash with Aston Villa, Kelly Cates asked Wright directly if Arteta was reluctant to deploy the 24-year-old star.
‘It’s worrying,’ the Arsenal icon said on the latest episode of The Kelly and Wrighty Show. ‘If you’re Kiwior right now, you’re probably thinking it’s done.’
Wright was left unimpressed with how Arteta tinkered his defence for the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa after the injury to centre-back William Saliba.
Arteta decided to move Jurrien Timber from right-back to central defence to cover for Saliba, with Thomas Partey slotting in on the right instead.
‘For me, if you’re going to change like that, I’d have put (Declan) Rice at right centre-back and Timber at right-back,’ Wright added.
Arteta is hopeful that Saliba will be fit to return for the Premier League showdown against Manchester City on February 2.
‘I hope so yes,’ the Arsenal boss said this week. ‘He is evolving well.
‘The last few days he was feeling much better already but this game comes a little bit too early for him.’
After their Champions League midweek clash with Dinamo Zagreb, Arsenal return to top-flight action on Saturday with a trip to Wolves.
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