Versatile Kiwior focused on Goodison test

Jakub Kiwior is expecting a difficult match at Goodison Park as we return to Premier League action following the international break this weekend.

Recalling last season’s 1-0 defeat in this fixture, which was Sean Dyche’s inaugural game in charge of the Toffees, Jakub believes that experience means we have to ensure we're at the top of our game to get the three points, which would be our first win on the blue half of Merseyside since 2017.

“It is going to be a difficult match,” he said. “It was a difficult match last year and it’s going to be a difficult match this year. It’s an away match and there are no easy matches in this league, but we have to get on the pitch and do what we are prepared to do and win the match.

“Of course there is an excitement. I’m the sort player who always waits for the day of the match, so the day when the match is played is always very important for me.”

After joining us in January 2023, Jakub has gradually been integrated into Mikel Arteta's team, and made eight first-team appearances last season and came off the bench against Crystal Palace this term before playing the full 90 minutes in our 2-2 draw with Fulham.

On being patient for opportunities to play, Jakub said: “If I start a match on the bench, I’m always prepared to go and play. I’m prepared for the team and for the coach to do my best.

“I think that everybody within the team has a very good relationship with the coach, the same as me.”

That Fulham draw saw Jakub, traditionally a centre-back, deployed at left-back, and he sees his versatility as one of his greatest strengths.

“When I was younger, I used to play all positions actually, but I don’t know when I started playing as a centre-back. It helps me a lot. I think it was when I was playing in Spezia, I was put in a central position and didn’t understand why initially, but then I realised it was helping me a lot to understand other things.

“As far as playing my position is concerned, my inspiration was Sergio Ramos. We would often watch his video clips.”

At just 23 years of age, our Polish defender already has a wealth of experience, having played in Poland, Belgium, Slovakia and Italy. How does the Premier League compare to those nations?

“I’ve always dreamt of playing in the Premier League,” Jakub explained. “I really like this league and this is what I expected. The matches are always hard, difficult and the atmosphere is great. When I was watching the Premier League on TV, I had my expectations, but what I’ve experienced now met my expectations.

“When I was four years old, my dad took me to my first training session. Of course I didn’t think that seriously at that time, however when I was 16 and went abroad, I started thinking about it more realistically.”

Settling in at Arsenal has been a straightforward process for Jakub, in no small part thanks to his welcoming teammates, in particular Oleksandr Zinchenko.

“I didn’t expect that everybody here would be so willing to help and have a good heart to help, so I was very welcomed in the club,” he remembered. “Everybody was willing to have a conversation with me, so it’s very difficult for me to point out particular players who would stand out from others, but I remember that when I was going to the changing room there was one player who helped and that was Zinchenko.

“I’m very aware that we were leading the Premier League and our goal was to win the Premier League and we didn’t succeed, however this year we want to do it.”