Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has lavished praise on Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko for their contributions in Arsenal’s convincing 2-0 victory over Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium. With defensive regulars Gabriel Magalhães and Riccardo Calafiori unavailable, Kiwior and Zinchenko stepped into the backline and delivered standout performances to help the Gunners secure their fourth consecutive Premier League win.
Reflecting on the game, Arteta highlighted the team’s overall display but reserved special recognition for the duo. “The way they train every single day, it’s not easy,” Arteta said. “For Jakub, it was his first Premier League start, and it was Alex’s second \[this season\] after the first game here against Wolves. They both performed at the highest level against this kind of opposition, after not playing a lot, which is very tough. So, I’m very pleased and grateful for them.”
Kiwior, making his full Premier League debut, slotted seamlessly into the heart of the defense alongside William Saliba. The Polish international displayed composure under pressure, making key interceptions and helping Arsenal maintain a clean sheet against a threatening Manchester United attack. Meanwhile, Zinchenko, returning to the starting lineup, brought his trademark technical quality and positional versatility, effectively neutralizing United’s wingers while contributing to Arsenal’s buildup play.
Arteta also praised goalkeeper David Raya, whose outstanding saves were crucial to Arsenal’s victory. Raya made a brilliant stop to deny Matthijs de Ligt a potential equalizer before William Saliba’s goal doubled the Gunners’ lead. “You really need to dig in against this kind of opposition,” Arteta noted. “David is there to save us when we need him, and he did it again today.”
The win underscored Arsenal’s tactical adaptability and depth, as the team made adjustments at halftime to take control of the match. Arteta explained, “We tweaked a few things at half-time, the team had a bit more clarity, a bit more efficiency, and we did the simple things much better. The game opened up a little bit more, and we had some big chances in open play before scoring from two set pieces.”
The victory extended Arsenal’s unbeaten run in the Premier League to 15 matches against ‘Big Six’ opponents, showcasing the team’s newfound resilience. The Gunners’ ability to rely on players like Kiwior and Zinchenko during injury setbacks is a testament to Arteta’s squad-building and their collective readiness to step up when called upon.
With the win, Arsenal moved to third in the Premier League table with 28 points, maintaining pressure on league leaders Liverpool. As the team prepares for their next challenge against Fulham, Arteta will take confidence in the depth and determination his squad demonstrated against Manchester United.
“The energy in the stadium was amazing, and the team was excellent,” Arteta concluded. “It’s great to celebrate this victory, and I’m really happy with how everyone performed.” With key contributions from unexpected sources, Arsenal’s title ambitions remain very much alive.