Jakub Kiwior’s loan move away from Arsenal was never about a lack of ability. It was about timing and opportunity. With Gabriel and William Saliba settled, minutes were always going to be hard to find. Porto offered something Arsenal could not at the time: a clear role and regular football. That matters now, because the question has changed. It is no longer about why the loan happened, but whether Arsenal should bring Kiwior back, a decision that is not as simple as it first sounds.
WHAT CHANGED IN PORTUGAL
At Porto, Kiwior is not being managed carefully or rotated in and out. He plays because he is trusted, and that trust shows. Regular football has given his performances a rhythm that was difficult to find in north London, where appearances often came in isolation.
There is a calmness to his game that stands out more clearly now. He looks more decisive when stepping out with the ball and more assured in his positioning. None of this is new, but repetition matters for defenders. Playing every week changes how mistakes are absorbed and how confidence builds.
It is also worth noting the environment. Porto demand results. They demand personality. Kiwior has had to adapt quickly, and he has done so without fuss.
ARSENAL’S SITUATION THIS SEASON
Back at Arsenal, the season has not followed a smooth script. Injuries have disrupted plans and forced Arteta into adjustments that were never part of the original vision. Players have filled in across the back line. Systems have shifted subtly to cope.
In that context, Kiwior’s absence has felt more noticeable. Not because Arsenal lack quality, but because flexibility suddenly becomes valuable when things stop going to plan. A defender comfortable in multiple roles is easier to appreciate once he is no longer there.
That does not mean the loan was a mistake. It does mean the picture looks different now.
WHY “JUST BRING HIM BACK” IS TOO SIMPLE
The obvious solution is to reintegrate him. But squad depth only works if it is believable. A player coming off a season of regular starts will want clarity, not vague assurances.
If Kiwior returns to a role where minutes depend entirely on injuries, the momentum he has built risks fading. Arsenal have to be honest about that. Development can stall just as quickly as it accelerates.
This is where the decision becomes uncomfortable. Keeping a good player is easy. Giving him a convincing pathway is harder.
WHAT COMES NEXT
What the loan has unquestionably done is raise Kiwior’s standing. Regular football, responsibility, and exposure have all helped. Arsenal now hold a stronger position than they did when he left.
That creates options. Reintegration is one. Another loan, perhaps at a higher level, is another. A permanent move is also on the table, especially if Arsenal decide the pathway is blocked.
None of those outcomes are failures. The risk lies in indecision, in letting a player drift back without a clear plan.
AUTHOR’S INSIGHT
This loan has answered more questions than it created. Kiwior looks like a defender who thrives on trust and continuity. Arsenal now have to decide whether they can offer that, or whether the best outcome is letting him take the next step elsewhere.
As featured on GoonerNews.com
