Not for that game, especially – the Gunners went on to win 2-1 without him – but for what it meant for the season as a whole.
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Gabriel’s misfortune was compounded by Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori’s ongoing injury issues. White has only started a combined 12 games in the big two competitions, while Calafiori hasn’t featured in over a month.
The 25-year-old had started just twice in the Premier League prior to Gabriel’s setback, and though he was utilised more in Europe, it was often in dead rubber games to give the Brazilian or Saliba a breather.
Real Madrid predictably tried to target him as a weak link, with Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo often gravitating over towards his side to join Mbappe. To his credit, they didn’t get very far.
Former Arsenal centre-back Martin Keown was full of praise for Kiwior (Photo: Getty)
It is perhaps indicative of Arteta’s faith in Kiwior – trust not always reciprocated by Arsenal’s fanbase – that the gameplan barely changed with him in the team.
Kiwior’s displays in both games drew praise from Martin Keown.
A popular Arsenal blog began an article on the defender last week with the sentence: “Jakub Kiwior, we’re sorry.” Type his name into the X search bar, and you will be inundated with posts along similar lines, a communal outpouring of repentance from Gooners who had all but written him off.
He is unfussy and competent, and provides natural left-footed balance, precisely what Arteta would want from a Gabriel understudy. Whether Kiwior is happy to remain on the fringes remains to be seen.
Will Kiwior be sold this summer?
Reports in Italy have linked him to Napoli just this week. Arteta will no doubt be keen to keep him, given how he has acquitted himself of late.
Regardless of how well he performs, this spell in the starting line-up is a temporary one which will end when Gabriel returns. But over the past 10 days, he has demonstrably shown that he is capable of playing at this level.
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Kiwior’s mark on the tie was more subtle, but no less important. Arsenal have a new unsung hero. Further examinations will come, but if Kiwior can help shut Madrid and their galaxy of superstars down, he can do likewise against PSG. He is Arsenal’s weak link no more.
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