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.
Continued on next slide…
Jakub Kiwior</a> in an Oleksandr Zinchenko-esque inverted role whenever we found ourselves in possession.</p>
<p>Despite the unspectacular context, this choice attracted widespread intrigue among supporters and showed great promise throughout its brief 50-minute exhibition. This might indicate Mikel Arteta has found another hybrid option that could prove useful during the 2023/24 campaign.</p>
<h2><strong>3 reasons why Kiwior should get more opportunities to play the Zinchenko role </strong></h2>
<p>Our Polish defender looked perfectly comfortable in an unorthodox post, and here are three potential upsides to his selection for any future midfield assignments.</p>
<p><strong>#1: He could be a capable deputy for Zinchenko </strong></p>
<p>Although Zinchenko got plenty of game time in his debut season, he has an extensive injury record that makes him too unreliable to be our only invertible solution.</p>
<p>Persistent calf strains and a minor knee issue saw the Ukrainian miss 15 matches across all competitions last year, and such unavailability would no doubt hurt Arsenal in their fight for both domestic and European crowns next term. As the saying goes, the best ability is availability.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">We saw enough of him last season to know there's a lot of talent in there. This could be a huge season for Jakub Kiwior at <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/17/3-arsenal-benefits-jakub-kiwior-oleksandr-zinchenko-role-preseason/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arsenal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#Arsenal</a> given his quick adaption and versatility. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/17/3-arsenal-benefits-jakub-kiwior-oleksandr-zinchenko-role-preseason/2/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/AFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#AFC</a> <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/17/3-arsenal-benefits-jakub-kiwior-oleksandr-zinchenko-role-preseason/2/"https://t.co/n1zPLGW3oS">pic.twitter.com/n1zPLGW3oS
<p>— Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/17/3-arsenal-benefits-jakub-kiwior-oleksandr-zinchenko-role-preseason/2/"https://twitter.com/adamkeys_/status/1679866283959959553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>July 14, 2023</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>But Kiwior might provide the answer as he is a skilled operator on the ball and would slot naturally into midfield if called upon- having played there almost exclusively during his first campaign in the Spezia senior team.</p>
<p>An excellent progressive passer who can turn on a dime, Kiwior’s profile has catapulted him beyond Kieran Tierney in the pecking order and helps mitigate the danger posed by any further Zinchenko absences.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/17/3-arsenal-benefits-jakub-kiwior-oleksandr-zinchenko-role-preseason/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #2 Why Kiwior could play Zinchenko role </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-135405 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/17/3-arsenal-benefits-jakub-kiwior-oleksandr-zinchenko-role-preseason/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1714,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1530077758-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1714" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1530077758-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1530077758-768x514.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1530077758-1536x1029.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1530077758-2048x1372.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2560px;">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)</p>
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<p><strong>#2: He gives Arsenal better defensive cover</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><em>Continued on next slide…</em></p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/17/3-arsenal-benefits-jakub-kiwior-oleksandr-zinchenko-role-preseason/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reason #3 Why Kiwior could play Zinchenko role </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-135356 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/07/17/3-arsenal-benefits-jakub-kiwior-oleksandr-zinchenko-role-preseason/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1706,w_2560/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1540525021-scaled.jpeg" alt="" width="2560" height="1706" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1540525021-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1540525021-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1540525021-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1540525021-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:2560px;">NUREMBERG, GERMANY – JULY 13: Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal is challenged by Johannes Geis of 1. FC Nürnberg 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)</p>
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<p><strong>#3: He could help Arsenal execute the ‘John Stones’ role</strong></p>
<p>As an option at centre half and for the inverted position, Kiwior offers a welcome versatility that enables us to deploy our very own John Stones-style roamer in central areas.</p>
<p>Manchester City showed the power of venturing centre-backs en route to claiming their historic treble last season, with Stones’ deep starting spot making it difficult to mark his forward runs.</p>
<p>Furthermore, his supreme composure on the ball granted the Champions an extra body in every phase of possession and allowed each no. 8 to drift into more advanced slots for enhanced goal threat, while the midfield station helps him retreat quickly and thereby aid the defensive effort.</p>
<p>From an Arsenal perspective, Kiwior’s skillset means he can likewise protect the Gunners’ backline if William Saliba is encouraged to drive into the middle, or right-back inversion may see the Pole assume the marauding role himself as he boasts the technical proficiency to evade any opposition press and complete penetrative passes.</p>
<p>His inverted candidature adds another string to the Arsenal bow, and Arteta will surely trial him there again on our upcoming US tour.</p>
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