3 things we learnt about Jakub Kiwior against Chelsea

William Saliba’s injury has had dire consequences, with Rob Holding simply not having the tools to replace the France international, but last night Jakob Kiwior showed he could be a worthy deputy as Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners.

Since the injury, fans have been crying out for Mikel Arteta to tweak the system to get Holding out of the team and ensure Arsenal get back to the quick build-up play that has brought them so much success this season, but the boss has persisted with him.

With each passing game, it has become more and more obvious that he isn’t suited to Arsenal’s style of football. Against Man City, he looked lost with the most basic tasks, which forced Arteta to finally change tack and give Kiwior his shot.

3 things we learnt about Jakob Kiwior against Chelsea

1. Left footer at RCB wasn’t a problem

Much of the doubt around Kiwior was playing a left-footed defender as a right centre-back, given Arteta’s obsession with specificity, but it wasn’t an issue on Tuesday night.

For much of his career, Kiwior has played in midfield and is more than comfortable moving his feet and releasing the ball off his left or right in tight spaces, and that showed against Chelsea

After a nervy first few minutes where he lost an aerial duel and misplaced a panicked pass, he settled and became extremely composed. Arsenal started playing the one and two-touch football at the back that we’ve seen all season, and Gabriel once again looked relaxed.

With Chelsea being in freefall, last night was the perfect game for Kiwior to make his debut and play this way, as it allows him to settle and build his confidence ahead of Newcastle, which will be a wholly different experience.

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2. He has the pace to play high

Arteta’s reluctance to use Kiwior could have been down to several reasons, from the left-footed factor to his inexperience, but the most likely answer is that he trusts Rob Holding.

That trust has cost Arsenal. The time for change was after West Ham when Holding’s play led to Arsenal playing an extremely deep line, and allowing them back into the game. He wasn’t the only player at fault, but he was a major factor.

With Kiwior in the team, Arsenal had significantly more pace, they had a player who could play and be trusted by his teammates in possession and, most importantly, not force the number six to play as an auxiliary centre-back to cover for a defender who lacks all those traits.

That security at the back is crucial to the way Arsenal play, as much our the team’s ability to play with teams pinned into their defensive third has come from the centre-backs operating inside the opposition half. With Kiwior, Arsenal could do that again.

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3. He has the bravery to play for Arsenal

Bravery is one of the most crucial traits needed to play for Arteta’s Arsenal. You must be brave enough to show for the ball, play high-risk football and engage aggressively in duels. Last night, Kiwior did all of those things.

On the ball, he had 71 touches and completed 53/57 (93%) passes, but it was the way he held the ball that was impressive. He was comfortable releasing it quickly, but he was also comfortable taking a couple of extra touches to pick out a better pass.

Along with these numbers, he made four clearances, three interceptions, a blocked shot and one tackle. However, he only won one of five aerial duels which will be a concern going into Newcastle who have a big, physical side that can play in the air and on the deck.

But, perhaps it’s not a bad thing to be coming away with learnings to take into the next game. It was his first Premier League start, and he was thrown into a team desperately out of form and did extremely well.

Alexander Isak will be a very different prospect to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz, who offered nothing throughout, and Arsenal will be going into a cauldron of noise at St James’ but the early signs from Kiwior are very positive.