Martin Keown names Arsenal star who has ‘really surprised’ him ahead of PSG clash

Martin Keown has picked out Jakub Kiwior for praise and admits the Arsenal defender has ‘really surprised’ him ahead of the side’s Champions League semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain.

Kiwior, 25, largely a peripheral figure since joining Arsenal from Spezia Calcio in 2023, has come to the fore in recent weeks following a season-ending injury to first-choice centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes.

Arteta has put his faith in Kiwior for the Gunners’ last six matches in all competitions and the Poland international has not looked out of place next to William Saliba at the heart of the defence.

One of the six Arsenal players to be on the field for every minute of Arsenal’s famous two-legged victory over Real Madrid, Kiwior is widely expected to continue his run in the side at home to PSG this evening.

It represents quite some turnaround for a player who reportedly came close to leaving the north London outfit in search of regular minutes in the January transfer window.

Previewing the semi-final for talkSPORT, ex-Arsenal centre-half Keown gave special mention to Kiwior and argued that the Pole’s performance alongside Saliba could prove ‘key’ versus the French champions.

‘There are going to be lots of battles all over the pitch,’ Keown said.

‘Kiwior has really surprised me with how well he’s played.

‘He’s dealt with the occasions well in both games against Real Madrid and him and Saliba are now forming a nice little partnership.

‘That’s really key to how well Arsenal do.

‘[Jurrien] Timber has got that mobility and that’s going to be an incredible match up with [Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia, whether he has the ability do be able to deal with it.’

Keown has been impressed the intensity PSG have displayed off the ball this season and feels Luis Enrique had landed on a ‘really good mix’ of players from defence right through to attack.

However, the three-time Premier League winner believes PSG captain Marquinhos is a player Arsenal could look to expose.

‘I’ve been watching PSG, getting my head around what they do, with [Achraf] Hakimi getting down the right-hand side,’ Keown added.

‘But the way they work off the ball… Arsenal played them and beat them earlier in the season with the new format. [Ousmane] Dembele didn’t play, Kvaratskhelia wasn’t even there and they’re now a different outfit.

‘Vitinha sits deep in their midfield. When he was at Wolves he was playing as a No.10 and now he sits really deep and he finds the passes to pick out the front three.

‘There is a really good mix. They’re strong in the full-back positions, Mendes is rapid. Marquinhos might just be someone we get at.

‘I was interested to see the way Villa managed to get bodies in front of that back four, back three, with Hakimi pushing forward. Arsenal will look to exploit that.’

Arsenal will be without the suspended Thomas Partey for their first leg with PSG, which Keown fears could prove a ‘big blow’.

‘It’s interesting to see what Arsenal will do in the midfield because Partey is suspended. That was a big blow,’ he continued.

‘Declan Rice, man of the match in both games, will have to have another one of those games over the two legs.

‘It’ll be interesting with [Myles] Lewis-Skelly, he shows no fear. But on his flank, Hakimi will be running down that line and they’ve got good movement in that area.’

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