A past player from the Gunners has mentioned that the gaffer, Mikel Arteta, was not keen on him departing from the squad.
The North London side invested heavily during the summer period, acquiring talents such as Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber, among others, with Arteta deciding on the composition of his team.
However, as many are aware, introducing fresh faces necessitates the departure of others. The player in question, aged 23, left towards the end of the transfer window and had previously stated that he only became aware of his transfer through social media.
Arsenal player claims Mikel Arteta DID NOT want him to go
The defensive lineup for the team has been quite consistent over the past year to year and a half.
Challenging the partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes proved difficult for the now-former defender, who mentioned that most of what was written in the media regarding his departure was untrue.
“I found those stories funny because the reality was the complete opposite,” Jakub Kiwior stated to TVP Sport, addressing reports that Arsenal wanted him to stay.
“The club was reluctant to let me leave, and it took them a considerable amount of time to approve the transfer. I felt valued there, and nobody intended to get rid of me. Arteta was also against my move to Portugal, so I never felt unwanted. The decision to leave was solely mine. I was eager to play, but with Gabriel and Saliba ahead of me, the opportunities were limited.”
“I personally convinced him,” Kiwior added, detailing his discussions with Arteta. “I approached him, explained my perspective, and he understood my ambitions and desire to play. He also expressed his appreciation for my conduct as both a person and a player.”
“He accepted my reasoning, consulted with the sporting director, and things progressed rapidly thereafter,” the defender continued. “FC Porto was the team that won me over. At one stage, they were calling me every single day. They showed great determination and never gave up, even after Arsenal rejected their offers multiple times.
“They demonstrated how much they valued me, so I decided to trust them. I received numerous offers, but when I learned that Jan Bednarek had joined, I thought: if this works out, it would be fantastic, and it truly is.”
FourFourTwo points out that Kiwior’s assessment about breaking up the Saliba-Gabriel partnership was accurate, and at 25 years old, consistent first-team play remains a key objective.
Considering his current loan arrangement with Porto, there’s still a potential for him to establish a career at the Emirates, assuming he performs impressively in Portugal this season.
