Andrea Berta - Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal have made a flying start to the new Premier League season, collecting six points from their opening two matches, scoring six goals without reply.
Mikel Arteta’s side opened their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford, a result that set the tone despite not being a vintage Arsenal performance. The Gunners followed up with a dazzling 5-0 thrashing of Leeds United at the Emirates, a game that also featured the unveiling of £67.5 million signing Eberechi Eze.
Summer recruit Viktor Gyokeres marked his home debut with a brace, while 15-year-old academy prospect Max Dowman made history by stepping onto the Premier League stage.
Attention now turns to Sunday’s top-of-the-table showdown at Anfield, where Arsenal face reigning champions Liverpool. Both sides have made perfect starts to the season, though Liverpool required late drama to secure their two victories.
READ MORE: Paul Merson responds to Arsenal fans questioning his ‘legend’ status over Chelsea allegiance
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s transfer activity continues to dominate headlines. The club remain linked with defensive reinforcements, including Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie, also a target for Tottenham and Girona’s Arnau Martinez. However, further signings are expected to hinge on player departures.
One such exit is close to completion. FC Porto are on the verge of securing Jakub Kiwior on loan, with a mandatory purchase clause worth up to €26 million, according to Sky Sport transfer reporter Luca Bendoni. The deal, which also includes a substantial loan fee, is set to end Kiwior’s Arsenal career less than two years after his €20 million move from Spezia in January 2023.
Jakub Kiwior
Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior (Image credit: Getty Images)
Kiwior, 25, has made 68 appearances for Arsenal, scoring three goals and providing five assists. He was vital during last season’s injury crisis, filling in for Gabriel Magalhaes and helping the Gunners to a Champions League semi-final. But competition for places has intensified this campaign, with new signing Cristhian Mosquera pushing the Polish defender further down the pecking order.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE NOW ARSENAL WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!
Porto, managed by Francesco Farioli, view Kiwior as a key defensive reinforcement. If completed, the deal would become the Portuguese club’s second-most expensive signing in history.
Arsenal had previously rejected a €27 million proposal from Porto earlier this month, but the revised package satisfies their valuation, allowing the club to recoup a profit while freeing up space in the squad. The funds are expected to support a potential move for Hincapie as a direct replacement.
Kiwior’s likely departure forms part of a wider summer shake-up overseen by new sporting director Andrea Berta. Arsenal have already added seven new players, including marquee signings Eze and Gyokeres, while the futures of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, and Albert Sambi Lokonga remain uncertain.
Kiwior is expected to undergo a medical in the coming days, with Porto aiming to finalise the transfer before their next league fixture.
NEXT ARTICLE: Wayne Rooney sends important advice to Max Dowman after Premier League debut