It’s 9 months since Jakub Kiwior’s arrival at Arsenal however trying again on his dizzying, £20m switch from Spezia, when he swapped a Serie A relegation battle for a Premier League title problem, nonetheless brings a smile from the softly-spoken centre-back.
“The feelings had been excessive from the very starting – even from the second I heard the rumours that they had been involved in me,” he tells Sky Sports activities in a quiet nook of the membership’s coaching floor. “That alone was large for me. After that, I used to be very glad to signal.”
He was happier nonetheless when, the day earlier than his transfer was made official, he was invited to observe Arsenal’s pulsating 3-2 win over Manchester United on the Emirates Stadium, an exhilarating spectacle which confirmed him first-hand what he was about to stroll into.
“If you’re already with us, you’re already with us,” mentioned Oleksandr Zinchenko as he pulled his new team-mate into the dressing-room celebrations afterwards. “The feelings had been excessive then, too,” provides Kiwior, smiling once more. “I used to be actually glad to have the ability to try this.”
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Arsenal had been monitoring him intently however the deal was a shock to only about everybody else. Kiwior, 23, got here with excessive potential however a low profile. He had solely made his Poland debut six months earlier. Earlier than becoming a member of Spezia in 2021, he was taking part in for Zilina in Slovakia.
No shock, then, that Mikel Arteta selected to mattress him in slowly. In addition to being new to the extent, Kiwior arrived with no information of English. He needed to wait two months to be handed his debut.
“I needed to play minutes as quickly as doable however I used to be instructed that I wanted to be calm, that I wanted time to settle in,” he says, talking with the assistance of an interpreter as he continues his efforts to be taught the language.
“These two months had been vital for me. It was an enormous change. I simply tried to be centered within the coaching classes and to get settled. The minutes finally got here, so it was a really helpful time.”
He made his first look within the Europa League in opposition to Sporting in March. After that, following cameos in opposition to Crystal Palace and Liverpool, he excelled on his full Premier League debut, a 3-1 win over Chelsea which reignited Arsenal’s title hopes – albeit quickly.
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Jakub Kiwior signed a long-term contract at Arsenal
“Each match is vital nevertheless it was good for me that I performed properly in opposition to Chelsea,” he says. “It motivated me to proceed working exhausting.
“Then, scoring my first objective within the final match of the season in opposition to Wolves was particular too. After all, we had been already profitable, nevertheless it’s at all times vital to attain your first objective for a membership.”
It was vital, too, to make a constructive impression on Arteta. “He’s a participant that I actually like, that is why I signed him,” mentioned the Arsenal supervisor in Could. “He has the potential, at his age, to be nice.”
Arteta just isn’t alone in score Kiwior extremely. Robert Lewandowski, his Poland team-mate, raved about his “extraordinary” capacity after his first worldwide call-up final yr. His regular progress at Arsenal ensures he’s positive to characteristic extra prominently this season.
Not that he has let the reward to his head. Kiwior is a quiet character whose shyness comes throughout on this, one among his first main interviews as an Arsenal participant. However there’s a steeliness to him too.
“It is excellent to listen to such constructive phrases out of your coach,” he says of Arteta’s feedback. “It clearly helps to bolster your confidence. However I strive not to consider it an excessive amount of as a result of I do know it will possibly have the countereffect as properly.”
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It’s an perspective which ought to serve him properly underneath a supervisor who strives for fixed enchancment and the admiration is mutual.
“I’ll say what all the opposite gamers say – that the connection and co-operation is extraordinarily good, and his techniques as properly,” he says.
“He is ready to convey what he means very properly. Even when I needed to say one thing unfavourable, there may be nothing unfavourable to say.”
Kiwior has been significantly impressed by the Spaniard’s consideration to element, together with the inventive, motivational workforce talks glimpsed within the All or Nothing documentary two seasons in the past.
“It is very completely different to what I used to be used to,” he says. “Coming right here, it is the primary time I’ve seen this ultimate assembly earlier than going out on the pitch appear to be it does right here. It is actually one thing new.
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“I used to be fairly shocked that one thing like this was even doable, {that a} coach may give you these ideas to form our perspective to the sport by means of all kinds of competitions and challenges to focus our minds.”
Kiwior typifies that focus in addition to anybody. The Pole remains to be working to carry down a beginning spot in Arsenal’s defence however he provides off no sense of frustration at his inconsistent taking part in time; solely a willpower to grab his probabilities once they come.
“Now we have wonderful gamers right here. The extent of competitors may be very excessive. However I am glad that I’m able to compete with such good gamers. Even when I am not chosen within the beginning line-up, I am attempting my greatest.
“I am glad each time I can assist the workforce, so I do not understand the competitors as one thing unhealthy.”
Most of Kiwior’s appearances thus far have are available central defence however his tactical intelligence is such that he has additionally embraced the duty of filling in as an inverted left-back. Again at Spezia, his ball-playing capacity even noticed him utilized in central midfield.
His versatility shaped a big a part of his attraction to Arsenal. In reality, it was one of many first qualities talked about by Arteta following the announcement of his arrival. Kiwior, for his half, simply needs to assist the workforce in any place he can.
“I nonetheless suppose my favorite and greatest place is centre-back nevertheless it’s the coach who decides the place I play and I at all times know the place I am taking part in earlier than the match. Now, it is not that vital for me. I simply really feel good taking part in. I am glad so long as I’ve minutes on the pitch.”
Kiwior appears relaxed about his prospects of taking part in extra repeatedly. He discovered the significance of persistence and perseverance throughout a circuitous path to the highest which additionally moulded the steely mentality with which he’s approaching this new problem in England.
At simply 23, he has already performed in 5 completely different nations, shifting from Poland to Belgium to enrol in Anderlecht’s academy as a teen, then departing to Slovakia searching for first-team soccer and getting his transfer to Spezia three years later.
“It was essential for me to play in several leagues as a younger participant,” he says. “After all, taking part in at first-team stage at a younger age, there have been huge expectations and I discovered quite a bit.
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Jakub Kiwior is relishing the competitors for locations at Arsenal
“It was troublesome to get right here. Arsenal is without doubt one of the largest golf equipment on the planet and it is an honour to play for them. However my earlier expertise was essential too. I’ve to thank all of the golf equipment I performed for earlier than.”
His time in Serie A, a proving floor for younger defenders, was significantly helpful. “It helped me, not solely throughout coaching classes, but additionally the matches. It was the very best lesson I may have as a defender, to have the ability to expertise that soccer each week.”
His 18-month spell there set him up for his subsequent step however did he ever dream it will come at a membership as huge as this? Kiwior shrugs. “I am undecided I truly dreamed about it,” he says, “however I centered on doing it and I am glad that I’ve achieved that objective.”
Now, his focus is to determine himself on this Arsenal workforce and assist them go one higher than final time period. “Each participant needs to battle and get three factors in each match,” he says. “We led the desk final yr. This time, we hope we can stick with it till the very finish.”
Jakub Kiwior, their softly-spoken centre-back with the perspective to match his capacity, is greater than able to play his half.
Watch Everton vs Arsenal reside on Sky Sports activities Premier League from 4pm on Sunday; kick-off 4.30pm