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£20m Arsenal ace could break record at Euro 2024 as he's compared to Man City star
Source:Just a

One member of Mikel Arteta's Arsenal squad could break a record at Euro 2024.

Starting 24 games in a row in all competitions, Arsenal's PS20 million man will write his name into his country's history books should he be included in the first XI during the final two group-stage fixtures in Germany (Sportowe Fakty).

Kiwior started on the left of a back three against Ronald Koeman's side. And, playing in a role very different to the one he plays at Arsenal, the former Spezia stopper stood out, his pinpoint raking passes a common sight.

Gunners legend Martin Keown, meanwhile, drew comparisons with Manchester City's John Stones during the BBC's live coverage; Kiwior stepping into midfield, creating overloads and drifting into pockets of space. He had two of Poland's best chances too, as Michal Probierz's team giving the Netherlands a real scare despite the absence of an injured Robert Lewandowski.

"I liked our style of play," Kiwior tells Sportowe Fakty, Poland proud of their efforts despite Wout Weghorst's late heartbreaker. "We entered the match openly and wanted to show our good side when we had the ball.

"It looked very good on Sunday. It's a pity that we didn't take advantage of the opportunities we created."

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Poland forced a series of saves out of Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, Adam Buksa opening the scoring with a header from a corner and Roma's Nicola Zalewski a silky, scheming standout on the left-hand side.

"It wasn't my best performance in the national team," Kiwior adds, playing down his own display while admitting that the Netherlands mssed plenty of chances themselves.

"Of course, they could have scored a few goals. But we could also have scored to make it 2-1. I had two situations where I could have scored a goal.

"I'm happy that I get a chance in every match. I have gained the trust of the coaches and I fight at every training session to make sure that the coach puts me in the next matches."

Poland facing early Euro 2024 exit already Kiwior, after a sluggish start to life in England, established himself as Arteta's first-choice left-back last season. Speculation regarding a return to Italy - via the likes of AC Milan and Roma - continue to swirl but the feeling is that the 24-year-old is on his way to becoming a player of real importance at the Emirates Stadium.

"We made a decision to bring him in (from Spezia in January 2023) because we believed that, whichever player we were going to sign to have the role, that he was going to need time. And that was the case," Arteta explained, hailing Kiwior's adaptation to life in a wider position.

"And we have made it difficult for him for two reasons. One, because he hasn't played that many minutes. And the second one because we asked him to play in a position that he's never played in before.

"So it's like putting William Saliba as a full-back, and saying; "There we go. Tomorrow, go and perform and do what we have to do!'. And I think (Kiwior) has adapted really well.

"I think he's playing better and better, you can tell that he's earning the confidence and physically he's better, he understands the role much better and he's been really good."