On deadline day, Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior joined FC Porto on loan deal an obligation to buy if certain set conditions are met.
The Poland international was unable to get regular minutes at Arsenal, especially in his preferred role as a centre-back, as Mikel Arteta had also utilised him as a left-back.
Kiwior’s decision to leave Arsenal for Porto on loan has pleased his former manager, Pavol Staňo, and Saturday’s edition of [O Jogo](http://ojogo.pt/) have relayed his comments.
The Gunners owned player had a spell in Slovakia with MŠK Žilina, and he initially joined their reserve team in 2019. A year later, he was promoted to their first team by Staňo, who returned to the club in July.
His former manager insists the defender is looking to enjoy regular playing time and Porto is the right club for Kiwior.
_“His main goal is to play more, to be more present on the pitch. FC Porto seems like the right choice for Kiwior. It will be a safe transition for someone who never needs to adapt or recover. His mental strength is always there,”_ he said.
_“As I played in the Champions League against FC Porto, I know that Kiwior will love the club, the stadium and the city.”_
The Arsenal man had shown at MŠK Žilina at an early age that he has what it takes to make it at the top five European leagues.
_“Kiwior stood out for being very hard-working, with great ethics. In every training, he was 100% focused,”_ Staňo explained.
_“During his time with us, we were the youngest team in European competitions, and yet he became our silent leader. We realised that he had what it took to reach one of the top five leagues, but his success came very quickly and when he arrived at Arsenal, he left us pleasantly surprised.”_
Kiwior’s former manager is also pleased with his maturity and growth over the years and mentioned this when explaining what Porto can expect from the Pole.
_“I think Porto are signing a centre-back, but with his knowledge, he can also be a good left-back when needed. These are the positions where he can fit in,”_ he added.
_“Over time, he has made rapid progress in his game. I would say he is a defender who is naturally drawn to thinking like an attacker, which makes him just as capable as a left-back.”_