Jakub Kiwior’s Arsenal future is once again under scrutiny, with former Poland international Marek Koźmiński warning that the defender has become a “hostage” of the club.
With Poland set to begin their World Cup qualifying campaign against Lithuania, concerns over Kiwior’s lack of game time at club level have resurfaced.
Kiwior has become a hostage of the club Marek Koźmiński deeply concerned about the national team defender's situation: Super Express, March 20, 2025 On Friday evening, the White and Reds will kick off their battle in the qualifiers for next year’s World Cup with a match against Lithuania. In the autumn Nations League matches, fans’ biggest concerns revolved around the defensive line. One of its key figures, Jakub Kiwior (25), has played only 270 minutes in three Champions League games for Arsenal this year. We spoke about the defender’s situation with Marek Koźmiński (54), a former Polish national team player. Super Express: – What can Polish fans expect from Jakub Kiwior if he plays for the national team? Marek Koźmiński: – It’s hard to say. Kuba has played very little for Arsenal in recent weeks. And when he did play, well... it wasn’t great. But that’s understandable: you can’t play only occasionally and expect to perform well. I say this in his defense—if a player doesn’t get into a regular match rhythm, how is he supposed to find form? – Piotr Świerczewski says: “Let’s be happy that we have a player in a top club and make use of that.” Should players who aren’t playing for their clubs still be called up to the national team? – I absolutely agree with Piotr. But in the long run—and in Kiwior’s case, it’s not such a short-term issue anymore, since it has been two years—you have to expect a national team player to be playing regularly at the club level. – But that’s not happening with Kiwior. – Not necessarily through any fault of his own. Every transfer window, we go through the same spectacle: “Will he leave or will he stay?” In this context, I get the impression that Kuba has become a hostage of the club. Or rather, a hostage of the amount that was spent on him. Now, I believe, Arsenal wants to recoup their investment. Meanwhile, interested clubs seem to be thinking—at least for now—not about buying him, but about taking him on loan. And so, we have the situation we’re in: an arrangement that is unfavourable for the player.
Kiwi became a hostage of the club Super Express 20 Mar 2025
For Koźmiński, the situation is clear: Kiwior is not playing, not improving, and yet remains in limbo due to the £20 million Arsenal spent on him.
“Every transfer window, we go through the same spectacle: ‘Will he leave or will he stay?’ In this context, I get the impression that Kuba has become a hostage of the club. Or rather, a hostage of the amount that was spent on him,” Koźmiński told Super Express.
The Polish centre-back’s struggles at Arsenal are no secret. Since joining in January 2023, he has failed to establish himself as a regular in Mikel Arteta’s squad, his minutes sporadic and largely confined to cup competitions or emergency appearances.
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 18: Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal and Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal speak during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on December 18, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
“It’s hard to say what to expect from Kiwior in the national team,” Koźmiński admitted. “Kuba has played very little for Arsenal in recent weeks. And when he did play, well… it wasn’t great. But that’s understandable: you can’t play only occasionally and expect to perform well.”
Calls to include Kiwior in Poland’s squad despite his club struggles have been backed by former midfielder Piotr Świerczewski, who argued: “Let’s be happy that we have a player in a top club and make use of that.”
CARDIFF, WALES: Jakub Kiwior of Poland in action during the UEFA EURO 2024 Play-Offs semifinal match between Wales and Poland/Estonia at Cardiff City Stadium on March 26, 2024. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
But Koźmiński takes a longer-term view. “I absolutely agree with Piotr. But in the long run – and in Kiwior’s case, it’s not such a short-term issue anymore, since it has been two years – you have to expect a national team player to be playing regularly at the club level.”
The problem, as Koźmiński sees it, is that Arsenal are reluctant to let Kiwior go permanently, seeking to recover their investment while potential suitors prefer a loan deal.
BERLIN, GERMANY: Jakub Kiwior of Poland looks dejected after the team's defeat in the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Poland and Austria at Olympiastadion on June 21, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
“Now, I believe, Arsenal wants to recoup their investment. Meanwhile, interested clubs seem to be thinking, at least for now, not about buying him, but about taking him on loan. And so, we have the situation we’re in: an arrangement that is unfavourable for the player.”
For Kiwior, the immediate concern is helping Poland get off to a strong start in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
But the longer his club future remains unresolved, the more difficult it will be for him to reach the level expected of a regular international defender.
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