Pain in the Arsenal
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3 potential benefits of playing Jakub Kiwior in Zinchenko role

By Kenneth Daly

NUREMBERG, GERMANY - JULY 13: Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal FC controls the ball during the pre-season friendly match between 1. FC Nürnberg and Arsenal FC at Max-Morlock Stadion on July 13, 2023 in Nuremberg, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
NUREMBERG, GERMANY - JULY 13: Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal FC controls the ball during the pre-season friendly match between 1. FC Nürnberg and Arsenal FC at Max-Morlock Stadion on July 13, 2023 in Nuremberg, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal’s Polish defender Jakub Kiwior (L) and Nuernberg’s Japanese forward Daichi Hayashi vie for the ball during the pre-season friendly football match FC Nuernberg vs FC Arsenal in Nuremberg, on July 13, 2023. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Polish defender Jakub Kiwior (L) and Nuernberg’s Japanese forward Daichi Hayashi vie for the ball during the pre-season friendly football match FC Nuernberg vs FC Arsenal in Nuremberg, on July 13, 2023. (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images) /

#2: He gives Arsenal better defensive cover

Questionable backline work became a major concern with Zinchenko last season as he was often caught too far upfield or out of position, which meant he was a liability at times, despite his obvious threat going forward.

While no one can doubt his talent in possession or the attacking value he brings via precise vertical passes, the 26-year-old struggles in 1v1 situations at the back and is known to suffer lapses in concentration- perhaps most famously for the decisive goal scored by his new teammate, Kai Havertz, in the 2021 Champions League final.

These shortfalls may strengthen Kiwior’s case for first-team minutes as he appears quite suited to the offensive demands of our inverted role, yet can also invoke his centre-back experiences to better compete in duels and snuff out counter-attacks when the ball is lost.

How Kiwior handles himself in isolated circumstances remains to be seen, but from a broad defensive viewpoint (and especially in games where we have less possession), he could challenge Zinchenko for a starting berth.

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