Arsenal signing Jakub Kiwior makes 'embarrassing' mistake on debut

James Shearman

• Updated: 9 Mar 2023 20:27 GMT
• 3 min read

January signing Jakub Kiwior struggled in his Arsenal debut against Sporting in the Europa League on Thursday.

Kiwior, who cost The Gunners £22 million from Serie A side Spezia, made an 'embarrassing' mistake which resulted in a Sporting goal.

After William Saliba gave the visitors the lead in the 22nd minute, the Polish defender was at fault for Goncalo Inacio's equaliser 12 minutes later.

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''It’s just really sloppy defensively, two mistakes, one from the goalkeeper not being brave enough to just come out and deal with that when it’s on your six-yard line,'' ex-West Ham striker Dean Ashton said on talkSPORT 2.

''And then with Kiwior, he ducks underneath it with his head going back into his shell, and then we all know that face when you flinch and turn around and something comes at you very quickly.

''And instead of turning and trying to attack the ball, he’s flinching away – it’s embarrassing.''

Arsenal legend Martin Keown also criticised the debutant on BT Sport: ''Kiwior has to do more.

''Because if I’m playing with this goalkeeper then I’m thinking I’m going to have to head more things.''

Arsenal struggle in Lisbon

Arsenal found themselves 2-1 down in the 55th minute when Paulinho scored from a rebound.

But Mikel Arteta's side drew level just seven minutes later as Granit Xhaka's cross was deflected in by Hidemasa Morita.

The Spaniard is clearly focused on the Premier League, fielding a rotated team, but The Gunners have a decent chance of winning the Europa League.