ARSENAL have given themselves a chance at finally tasting European glory with their Champions League victory over Real Madrid.
The Gunners swept Europe’s biggest and best aside with ease, doing it with an injury to one of their best players too.
Jakub Kiwior stepped in for Gabriel Magalhaes and put up another stellar performance as the Brazilian’s deputy.
In this week’s edition of Arsenal Files, Jordan Davies dives into the dilemma that leaves Mikel Arteta with, as well as giving an update on the North London club’s pursuit of Nico Williams and much, much more.
JAK TO THE FUTURE?
It is not unusual for injuries to provide the perfect platform for Arsenal players to change their fortunes under Mikel Arteta.
Bought in the summer for around £32m, Mikel Merino was viewed as a valuable squad player and midfield back-up to the likes of Declan Rice and Thomas Partey.
But with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus crocked for the season, the Spaniard has transformed himself into a goalscoring No9 – with six goals in 12 appearances in that position. You cannot picture this Arsenal team without him right now.
For Myles Lewis-Skelly, this was meant to be an “easing in” year in the world of senior football, the academy graduate only making his first team debut back in September.
But with another summer arrival in Riccardo Calafiori struggling for fitness, the full-back has seized the moment for club and country – a nailed-on starter with 31 appearances in all competitions so far this term.
But the most surprising of the lot has been Jakub Kiwior – the Polish centre back stepping in for another long-term absentee in Gabriel during one of the Gunners’ most important weeks of their season, and arguably of boss Arteta’s reign.
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Kiwior has started Arsenal’s last four games in all competitions – his longest run of the campaign and the longest since an eight-game spell from February 11 to March 31 of 2024.
Two draws and two wins, but the latter have been startlingly impressive, earning a clean sheet in their 3-0 quarter final first leg victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League before backing that up once more in the 2-1 second leg win in the Bernabeu this week.
His critics since arriving at the Emirates in January 2023 for around £20m from Spezia would rightfully point out his flaws – often a nervousness on the ball and a tendency to make rash decisions and costly errors, as well as his positioning in one-on-ones.
Most notably in last season’s Champions League quarter final, operating as a left-back in the 2-2 first leg draw, where he was skinned by Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane that led to Harry Kane converting a penalty.
As a result, he has been linked with moves away.
AC Milan and Napoli have taken an interest with Kiwior said to be keen on a return to Italy for regular first-team action as he looks to keep his starting spot for Poland.
Arteta seemingly saw him as one to let go to raise transfer funds.
But his performances against Madrid may leave Arteta with a dilemma.
His calmness of approach to keep the likes of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe quiet was just as eye-catching as Declan Rice’s thunderbolt free-kicks and Bukayo Saka’s return from injury.
Kiwior is known as one of the quieter members of the Arsenal dressing room, with club sources struggling to get more than a few words out of him at times – hardly a character and a personality that Arteta requires and demands.
And yet, would letting him go be a mistake? Someone in the squad who can provide good competition for Gabriel and William Saliba is a valuable asset.
Arteta may still deem the 25-year-old surplus to requirements, in which case they could make a decent profit on a player who has certainly raised his game in recent weeks.
But should Kiwior carry on his fine form in the semi-finals against PSG – and even go on to start in a back four that wins the Champions League – letting him go could prove to be tougher than first thought.
It will certainly test the ruthlessness of Arteta’s ambitions to strengthen an already-strong squad.
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MIK’S BERNABEU SURPRISE
Just like his mentor Pep Guardiola, it is often the case that Arteta likes to be in control of a 90-minute performance, preparing for any context, regardless of whether that ties in to the ‘beautiful game’ or not.
The Spaniard is not afraid to sit deep and defend and frustrate, nor is he scared of going all guns-blazing and attacking from minute one. To adapt is to survive, and win.
So it was a huge surprise to hear Arteta speak after the second leg triumph at the Bernabeu with alarming honesty at how helpless he felt on the touchline this week.
He explained: “It was my first time as a coach in that dugout and I realised after three minutes that in this stadium, anything is possible.
“I mean, they are specialists in creating such chaos, such a belief, and it’s very difficult to understand really what’s going on in the game and have certainty about how we control it.
“I’m here to experience these kinds of games and to go through them. I know that sometimes you’re going to win, sometimes you’re going to lose.”
This points to a real maturing and progressive moment in Arteta’s managerial career, forced to sit back and trust his players will make the right decisions, knowing he can have little impact through his ants-in-his-pants behaviour on the sidelines.
If he is to lift the Champions League on May 31 in Munich, he will need much more of that.
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NICO OF TIME
Arsenal summer target Nico Williams proved once again why he is wanted by most of Europe with another goalscoring showing in the Europa League this week.
In fact, his 80th minute header to make it 2-0 to Athletic Bilbao against Rangers and send them to the semi-finals was a VERY Arteta-style goal from the wing.
Coming inside, nipping in front of his defender and heading in at the far post from a looped cross – how many times have we seen the likes of Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard do that in an Arsenal shirt?
That was Williams’ fifth goal in Europe, making it 11 goals in 42 games in all competitions – the best return of his career.
Despite being happy at his boyhood Bilbao, the 22-year-old expects to leave with the use of his £50m release clause this summer.
While he also feels he has done his duty by putting the club in pole position to qualify for the Champions League next term, currently in fourth with seven games remaining and with a chance of winning the Europa League.
The fee alone would be ‘cheap’, but Spanish sources have told SunSport he could demand an eye-watering wage of around £250k-a-week.
An incredible amount for someone so young and untested in England.
That would put the Spaniard up there with Arsenal’s highest earners, and seriously test the willingness of Arsenal as they plan a “big” summer spending spree and aim to bring an elite No9 through the door.
And remember, their financial report of 2023/24 showed that they have already increased their wage payments by nearly £100m from £234.8m to £327.8m.
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A WELL-EARNED REST
Arsenal will have a six-day break before their Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain – thanks to Crystal Palace.
The Eagles were due to face Arsenal next Saturday on April 26, but the south east Londoners instead have an FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa.
Instead, Arsenal will welcome Palace to the Emirates on Wednesday April 23 before hosting PSG on Tuesday April 29.
An extra few days of rest and recovery at London Colney will be a blessing for Arteta, and may just give Arsenal the edge.
Meanwhile PSG have to play two Ligue 1 games in just THREE days, against Nantes on Tuesday April 22 and then OGC Nice on Friday April 25.
On the flipside, Luis Enrique’s men have already won the French title, and will likely rest all of their big hitters before travelling to North London.
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