“It was tough” – Arsenal star opens up on summer exit | OneFootball

Kiwior Opens Up on Emotional Arsenal Exit

Farewell shaped by uncertainty

Jakub Kiwior’s departure from Arsenal was less the clean break of a transfer and more a lingering farewell that never quite felt conclusive. The Polish international, who joined Porto on deadline day, admitted to The Standard and Portuguese outlet O Jogo that the circumstances around his exit left him unsettled.

“It was difficult to say goodbye to Arsenal, because I didn’t know when it would actually happen,” he reflected. In his telling, the days leading up to the move were clouded by uncertainty, a deal edging closer while teammates teased him about Fabrizio Romano’s trademark “here we go”.

Photo IMAGO

The farewell itself came hastily. “They set up a farewell tunnel, and it was tough… not everyone I wanted to say goodbye to was there, so I still had to make a few phone calls.” It was a moment tinged with poignancy, a defender unsure when his last act in red would come, only to be told the following day he was finally leaving.

Arsenal’s defensive reshaping

The sale, expected to bring Arsenal around £22.5 million once the loan is made permanent, is as much about squad dynamics as balance sheets. Kiwior was often a useful option in the absence of Gabriel, featuring at both left-back and centre-back. Yet Arsenal’s summer business brought Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen, a younger player viewed as a more natural fit for Mikel Arteta’s evolving back line.

Photo: IMAGO

Kiwior’s role in North London had been functional rather than transformative. The 25-year-old gave Arsenal stability in a testing period, but his exit signals both the ruthless nature of elite squads and Arteta’s readiness to refine his defensive structure further.

Porto as new beginning

Kiwior himself sees the move not as a step down but as a chance to flourish. “I feel more comfortable playing left-back,” he explained. “My experience at Arsenal has given me great quality with the ball at my feet.” At Porto, he hopes for continuity, regularity and a defined position.

The Portuguese club offers history and stature, if not quite the Premier League’s intensity, and for Kiwior, that balance may prove ideal. “It’s a great pleasure for me to sign for FC Porto because I know the history and know this is a great club, so I’m very happy,” he added.

Photo IMAGO

Legacy and transition

Arsenal will remember Kiwior as a player who bridged gaps. Not a cult hero, not a marquee name, but a dependable figure when rotation and injury demanded. His quiet farewell mirrors his understated influence. The club move on with Hincapie, while Kiwior seeks permanence in Portugal. For both, the transition carries opportunity.

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For Arsenal fans, the report on Kiwior’s farewell will stir mixed emotions. On one hand, there is a genuine respect for a player who carried himself with professionalism, stepping into the team when Gabriel was absent and showing competence in two positions. On the other hand, his departure underlines the relentless churn of elite football.

Some supporters will feel a twinge of sympathy at his account. “They set up a farewell tunnel, and it was tough,” he admitted, highlighting the almost transactional nature of modern transfers. Arsenal’s summer strategy, focused on adding Hincapie, shows just how quickly good squad players can be moved on once a more suitable option is identified.

Yet there is also a recognition that the squad must evolve. Arteta is seeking balance and depth to compete with Manchester City and Liverpool over the long haul. That requires players not merely capable of filling gaps but of driving the team forward. Kiwior’s honesty in saying he “feels more comfortable playing left-back” suggests he was still searching for his true role, something Arsenal could not guarantee.

For fans, there is warmth in his words about Arsenal, but also excitement that the club continues to refine. Hincapie represents the next phase, while Kiwior’s journey with Porto will be followed with goodwill. Supporters may lament the loss of depth, but there is also pride in knowing that even those who leave do so with affection for the club.